The report reaching this media has it that the Port Harcourt 2 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Onne, has generated a total of ₦246,025,872,903.80 from January to October 2023. This is an increase of ₦44,145,889,008.65 from the amount generated in 2022 within the same period under review.The report emanated from a press briefing organized by the Command on Friday, November 3, 2023, to showcase seizures made and also the handing over of two suspects arrested in connection with a pistol and over 100 9mm live ammunition. The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Baba Imam while handing the suspect and the seizure toNigerian Police Force,
disclosed that the Command realized over 38 Billion Naira for the month of October alone, surpassing its monthly revenue target of 28 Billion Naira with an increment of over 10 Billion Naira. While briefing the journalists and some of the critical stakeholders, the Customs Area Controller said the briefing was sequel to series of events that have unfolded in the command for the last six months since their last press briefing. He therefore reiterated that the briefing was to showcase the speed at which the command is embracing the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service in revenue generation and anti-smuggling enforcement. According to the report “on the 26th of October 2023, in the course of examination of an imported container from United State which was declared to contain household effects and One used vehicle, was found to contain One pistol and 100 rounds of ammunition. The operatives of the Customs Intelligence Unit attached to the group of examination officers was instrumental to the discovery of the Pistol and 100 rounds of live ammunition concealed within the vehicle.“Consequently, two suspects have been arrested in connection to this importation. The pistol, ammunition as well as the two suspects shall all be handed over to the Nigerian police force shortly after this press briefing, as criminal cases relating to our collaborative functions with other Government agencies are handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution.” The Customs Area Controller continued that the command was able to stem down on smuggling and concealment as provided by the extant import prohibition laws of the service. He gave the breakdown of such seizures as follows “1. 724 bales of used clothing, 2. 1805 pieces of used tyres, 3. 4 Vehicles used in concealment of 76.9kg special cannabis (marijuana), 4. 2070 cartons of Tomatoes paste, 5. 1578 cartons of Barcadin Cough syrup with codeine (100ml) and many other items. The total duty paid value for these 9 containers stands at ₦1,162,424,371.00,” he said. While emphasizing that it is not a thing of joy to impound goods that violate the extant laws, the Comptroller Baba Imam advised the importers and their agents to be very compliant as the Comptroller General of Customs has made everything possible to facilitate their operations.“Let me at this junction be emphatic that we do not just take delight in impounding containers or making seizures of contraband goods, rather we do this to enforce the laws of the nation and to serve as deterrent to others.“The Command and indeed the Customs of today has zero tolerance to smuggling and has no cause not to perform as every encouragement, logistics and other incentives have been given by our amiable Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, DSM, FNIPR, Psc (+) and that has boosted the morale of all officers to be more determined than ever to fight smuggling,” he
said.Finally he advised the general public to key into the operations of the service which is aimed at bringing peace, stabilizing the economy by blocking economic leakages and harnessing social justice. He also reiterated on the need to keep partnering with other security operative to achieve results.
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