Nigeria Customs Service, Area II Command Onne Port has raised a total of N58.059 billion in the first quarter of 2022.
Ifeoma Onuigbo Ojekwu, Customs Public Relations Officer, Area ll Command, Onne Port said in a statement that the money received is N19.182 billion higher than N38.877 billion collected within the first three months of 2021 which shows a 49.3 percent increase.
On anti-smuggling, the command made a total of 9 seizures worth N59.491 million representing duty paid.
A breakdown of the items seized shows 18,555 pairs of footwear worth N26.507 million; 270 pieces of machinery and parts worth N2.211 million; 3,825 pieces of used tyres worth N26.215 million and 8 bags of rice worth N171,961.
Other seizures listed include 555 cartons of soap and foreign detergent worth N2.709 million; 3 bales of textile fabrics worth N250,377 and 72 cartons of tomato paste worth N1.425 million.
On export, the command processed 320,245.34 metric tonnes of cargo with a free onboard value of N109.486 billion.
List of exported items include sesame seed, ginger, hibiscus, fluorite ore, lead ore, palm kernel shell, cotton, float glass, aluminum, ingot, and urea.
More exported items were foodstuff, columbite ore, cashew nuts, tin ore, printed sacks and others.
Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed who described the feat as work in progress, expressed optimism that the command total collection for the year will surpass last year’s.
He urged stakeholders and port users in Onne to continually improve on their level of compliance which is lawful, saves time and enhances overall port productivity.
The CAC commended the support and encouragement received from other government agencies which he described as highly invaluable.
While urging everyone to always be law abiding, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed reminded them of various resolutions and take home points from stakeholders meetings.
He advised them to brace up for the nonintrusive inspection regime which will de-emphasize human contacts in the cargo clearing process and maximize technology for economic and security advantages.
Speaking on the collected revenue on Friday Comptroller Auwal Mohammed said “Our first-quarter revenue collection for 2022 is a reflection of dedication to duty and noncompromising by our officers. Maximizing our potential for revenue collection through interventions and issuance of demand notices (DN) have contributed to this achievement.
“What we have achieved so far is commendable but we must not be carried away by either relaxing or being complacent. I believe, we can do more in months ahead.
“It is part of the Comptroller General of Customs mandate to raise revenue and we will remain focused at achieving it without compromising national security by ensuring that no cargo exits Onne Port without due examination and duty payment.
“So far , I have enjoyed excellent relationship with sister agencies like the Nigerian Navy, Department of State Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control and many others.
“I urge all of us to embrace the reality of modern trade thrust in ports which emphasise a reduction in human contacts and maximum deployment of technology. The NCS management is taking further steps to actualise this as reflected in the recent stakeholders sensitisation meeting on Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) carried out by the ICT and Modernisation Department.
“Together, let’s make Onne Port a high compliant area and together ensure that perpetrators of any form of illegality like smuggling, concealments, duty evasion, false declaration, under valuation and other vices do not succeed here,” he said.
