The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Area 2 Command, Onne Rivers State has declared that its revenue generation as at 11 November, 2024 stood at over ₦550 billion.
It stated that it has upped its annual revenue generation target of ₦618 billion in 2024 by hitting 89 per cent of the Command annual revenue target.
The Area 2 Command also recorded another unprecedented feat in its anti-smuggling war, intercepting 21 containers of Illicit drugs and donkey skin with Duty paid value (DPV) of ₦46 billion, thus putting the total seizures in 10 months to 63 containers with DPV of over ₦103 billion.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, made the disclosures during a press briefing at Onne, Rivers State, on Monday.
“Within the past months of this year, in the area of revenue, the Command, as at this morning, has generated a total revenue of (₦550,431,559,598.41) which translate to 89 per cent of the annual target of ₦618 billion given to the Command,” he said.
He said: “You will recall exactly two months and seven days ago, precisely 4 September, 2024, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, was in Onne Port where he showcased series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command.
“Twelve containers were displayed of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration and meticulous physical examination.
“The security concern from the series of seizures of contraband goods made through this port led to the declaration of a three-month state of emergency where the Onne Command have been granted the authority to scrutinise all suspected containers, regardless of the presence of their owners.”
Comptroller Babandede insisted that it was a proactive approach aimed to ensure that no illegal substances could evade detection.
He noted that, in line with the CGC policy thrust of consolidation and collaboration, the Area 2 Command has been working with sister agencies such as NDLEA, DSS, Quarantine and NAFDAC, among others, in implementing the state of emergency.
He disclosed that the Onne Command made yet another significant seizure of 20 40ft and one 20ft containers laden with illicit drugs which, according to him, posed a severe threat to public health and safety.
Comptroller Babandede also disclosed of another one 20ft container laden with donkey skin which was also intercepted. He gave the breakdown as follows;
2,624,053 bottles of 100ml Cough Syrup Codeine; 7,530,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac; 3,500,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol; 27,048,900 tablets of 225mg Royal Tapentadol/ Tramadol/Tamolx; 7,665,000 tablets of 200ml fake/counterfeit Gonorrhea Antibiotics without NAFDAC number.
15,600,000 tablets of fake 4mg chlorphenamine; 33,840,00 tablets of 2mg fake Lemotil Loperamine; 19,430 pieces of Chilly cutter used for concealment; 20,238 pieces of Sanitary Fittings Tap/toilet seat used for concealment;
26,400 tubes of 30mg fake Permethrin cream; 480,000 tablets of fake Stapsiril! 112,500 tablets of fake multi mineral supplement; 28 drums of diphenhydramine Hydrochloride ip of 25kg each; 3,388 pieces of waste connector used for concealment and 2,100 pieces of donkey skin.
He put the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the 21 containers at ₦46,399,119,810, and the DPV for the donkey skin at ₦441,000,000.
Comptroller Babandede further said; “These seizures underscore our unwavering commitment to combatting illicit medicine and ensuring the safety of the public.
“The implementation of this state of emergency by the CGC has proven effective in enhancing our operational capabilities and ensuring that we can act decisively against those who seek to undermine our nation’s security.”
The Onne Area 2 Controller said the Command, under his stewardship has steeped up its anti-smuggling activities.
According to him, the Command, this year, made a total seizure of 63 containers comprising of 844 riffles, 112,500 pieces of live ammunition; over 6,469,253 bottles of 100ml syrup with codeine; over 56,878,900 tablets of 225mg Royal Tapentadol/Tramadol/Tamolx, among others.
He said the seizures were made for violations or contraventions of various Customs laws and breach of procedures as provided under the revised Import Prohibition Guidelines of the Common External Tariff 2022-2026, as well as Sections 233, 234, 235, 245, 246 of Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
Babandede also disclosed that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the total seizures made so far is ₦130,562,660,407.
On trade facilitation, he said the Command utilised the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Trade Facilitation Tool, Time Release Study (TRS) to generate maximum revenue, noting that utilising TRS within the year has been unprecedented.
Speaking on his achievements in export, he said: “In the area of export, you would agree with me that export play a crucial role in any nation’s economy and Nigeria, relying on it promotes economic growth, job creation and provides favourable balance of trade and exchange rate for the naira to the dollar.”
“In the Command, a total of 2,436,408.33 metric tonnes of goods with a Free On Board (FOB) value of $826,613,015.87 was processed.”
He particularly thanked the media for the critical role they are playing in the area of sensitisation and public enlightenment, in order to achieve compliance to trade laws on all imports and export through the Command.
The high point of the event was the handing over of the seized items to the relevant regulatory agencies, including the NDLEA, NAFDAC, Quarantine, who were on hand to receive the seizures.
