Officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service at Port Harcourt Area I Command have succeeded in generating ₦89.574b in revenue from January 2023 to October 21, 2023.
This was made known to newsmen by the outgoing Comptroller of Port Harcourt Area I Command, Comptroller Wada Chedi, on Thursday 26th of October, 2023, during a press briefing in the Command Headquarters, Port Harcourt.
According to the CAC, “The figure, when compared to the corresponding period of 2022, which stood at ₦72.463b, had a significant difference of ₦10.858b.”
He highlighted that the Command witnessed an increment in revenue with a clear representation of 13.8 percent.
“The Command had experienced its lowest influx of container cargoes into the Port. However, the import duties collected from Bulk Cargoes had contributed to the bulk of revenue collected in the Command.
“Significant milestones were achieved in March, which stood at ₦11.675b, and August, which stood at ₦11.834b as against ₦8.310b and ₦9.677b collected in the previous years”, the outgoing Area Controller disclosed.
While appreciating the solid efforts of his men for securing the milestone, Comptroller Chedi applauded the support he receives from stakeholders – saying, “This feat could not have been achieved without painstakingly engaging with our critical stakeholders through several forms of sensitization programs’’.
In terms of additional value through interventions, the Command generated over ₦1.762 Billion in the period under review. These interventions were derived from Demand Notices issued to importers with infractions on their importations.
The Area Controller, who spoke about Export activities, expressed strong optimism that with the take-off of the Ibeto Wharf, the Command will sustain a good import and export hub, as well as a sustainable revenue base.
In the aspect of Anti-Smuggling activities, the Command had put more emphasis on 100 percent physical examination policy of the service. As a result, some containers suspected to have been falsely declared had been placed under detention pending further investigation.
“I want to use this medium to warn any would-be smuggler to avoid Area 1 Command because their containers will be seized, and culprits will be arrested and prosecuted in a court of law.
Comptroller Chedi also said in the period under review, the command has embarked on a working tour to the Bayelsa and Ahoada Out-Stations to appraise the Customs activities in those areas.