Onne Customs Area 2 nets N634bn revenue in 2024, surpasses N618bn target
By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Area 2 Command, Onne, Rivers State said it has generated a total of N634 billion from January to December,2024, thereby surpassing the annual target of N618 billion set for the Command.
This was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Onne, Mohammed Babandede Tuesday while briefing the Press on the performance of his Command in 2024.
According to him, the figure represents an increase of N321 billion,which is about 98% increase from the 2023 revenue generation.
In the area of anti-smuggling, the CAC said a total of 76 container seizures, comprising of arms, ammunition, illicit medicine, vegetable oil, footwears, donkey skin, used cloths, among other uncustomed goods used as concealment, with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N150,872,551,207 in twelve months.
The CAC said in export, the major commodities exported through this axis comprise agro and mineral resources,namely sesame seeds, aluminium ingot, granular urea in bulk,wheat bran,orange peel, among others.
This, Babandede said, amounts to a total of 2,707,339.22 metric tonnes of goods,with Free On Board (FOB) value of $952,986,490.99,which is equivalent to N1,261,039,168.99 that was processed through the Command this year.
The CAC was categorical that the feat was made possible through effective collaboration with other sister agencies or stakeholders,such as NDLEA, NAFDAC, QUARANTINE, among others.
“We appreciate the continued support and collaboration of all stakeholders, including the Media in amplifying our message and effort to combat smuggling,” Babandede said.
He thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs(CGC),Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for instituting the award of recognition of Area 2, as Best Command in anti-smuggling operations, which he said further strengthened the efforts of his officers and men.
Babandede equally told the media that his Command benefited from the recent promotion of the Service to the extent that 14 Deputy Comptrollers were elevated to the rank of Comptrollers, 6 Assistant Comptrollers to the Deputy Comptrollers and 17 Chief Superintendent of Customs were promoted to Assistant Comptrollers, among several others.
