The Onne Area 2 Command ,Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated 40.3 per cent of its current revenue generation target, declaring a record of Two hundred and Forty-Nine Billion, Seven hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Two hundred and Sixty-Eight thousand, Two hundred and Ninety-Eight naira, Twenty-Eight kobo (₦249,752,268,298.28) between April and June 21, 2024.
Speaking with the Newsmen on Friday, June 21 2024 , Port Harcourt, River State on the successes recorded by the Command since his assumption of office in April this year, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Mohammed Babandede, emphasizing that this translated to 50.4 per cent of the initial target given to the Command and 40.3 per cent of the current annual target.
When compared to the same period last year, the Command according to him, had an increase in revenue generation of One hundred and Fifty-Three billion, Two hundred and Thirteen Million, Seven hundred Thousand, Four hundred and Fifty naira, fifteen Kobo (₦153,213,700,450.15).
“It is worthy to note that despite the NLC strike, Democracy day and Sallah holiday, as at this morning the Command has generated Forty-Three billion, Four hundred and Thirty Million, Two hundred and Sixty Seven Thousand, Two hundred and Ten naira (₦43,430,267,210.00) in the month of June 2024,” he pointed out.
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“We look forward to continuous rise in revenue generation in the coming months and we are optimistic that we would surpass the annual target by the end of the year,” the CAC added.
On anti-smuggling activities, he announced that the Command has seized six containers 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.
Also seized is a container of used electronics which has turned to e-waste.
“As you are aware of the environmental effect such waste pose to human lives, for the purpose of disposal we shall be working with the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in the spirit of inter-agency cooperation, synergy and in line with section 119 & 245 of the NCS Act 2023 to have it disposed,” Babandede said.
Other seized items displayed by the Command at the press conference were 4×20 feet containers laden with bales of clothing, lace and fabrics i.e. (96 jumbo size in total) with Duty Paid Value of ₦911,520,011.00.
Also seized were 2×40 feet containers laden with 2,625 cartons of cough syrup codeine, 80 cartons of Sildenatil Citrate tablets and 40 cartons of deluxe chilly cutter with Duty Paid Value of ₦2,250,654,000.00, all based on concealment, false declaration, contravention of revised import prohibition guideline and section 55 sub-section (1) paragraphs (C) and (I) of NCS Act 2023).
The CAC explained that the content of these importations contravened the provision of the law which prohibits and restricts certain goods for the protection of public health and safety.
Put together, the total Duty Paid Value of the seven seized containers stood at ₦3,188,454,452.
He said that the above seizures were made purely from intelligence gathered and information sharing with sister agency alongside 100 per cent physical examination.
Comptroller Babandede thanked the NDLEA for their collaboration and inter-agency cooperation as seizures of this magnitude could not have been possible without the involvement if its officers.
However, he said investigation was still ongoing through it’s Legal/Intelligent Unit to arrest the culprits and bring them to book as soon as possible.
“The seized containers would be filed for condemnation at the federal High Court, Port Harcourt and shall subsequently be forfeited to the federal government, Babandede announced.
The Customs boss promised that the Command shall continue to address our core responsibilities by employing various risk management strategies aimed at collecting revenue, identifying vulnerable leakages, gathering intelligence and facilitating trade.
He underscored the necessity and imperativeness of leveraging on synergy, collaboration and intelligence sharing with sister agencies and stakeholders as it enhances its revenue drive and anti-smuggling feats.
“These deliberate and concerted efforts will guide us in contributing our quota towards realising remarkable results in line with Vision and Mission of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi and His management team,” he said.
The Onne CAC recognised the critical role the media especially in the area of sensitisation and public enlightenment, in order to achieve willful compliance to trade laws of all imports and export through the Onne axis.
He therefore urged the media to continue to educate the public while the Command will continue to re-invigorate strategies that will enhance its performance.
Babandede also seized the opportunity to educate the journalists on the procedure in clearing items entering or leaving Nigeria, stating that the final destination for clearing of any consignment into the Country is at the owner’s or importer’s discretion and cannot be altered by any customs officer including the CAC.
Therefore, this according to him, negates the erroneous belief that Onne officers connive with operators of Bonded Terminals to transfer containers to Bonded Terminals.
“Secondly part of the procedure stipulates that these items moving to Bonded Terminals should be on Transire/Bond which is mandatory.
“The third procedure is escort from Onne Port to the bonded terminal. These procedures are strictly adhered by the Onne Customs Command.
“Any infraction discovered in the course of physical examination will translate to Demand Notice in order to recover the shortfall in revenue paid or detention in our government warehouse which will be converted to seizure.
“It may interest our stakeholders to note that the seizures of codeine where on transire to a Bonded Terminals but due to intelligence gathered they were step-down for physical examination at the mother Port,” the CAC further explained.
“Hence there is no hiding place for economic saboteurs in the Command..
“ The command would not only fish them out, but shall get them arrested with their goods forfeited to the Federal Government” he warned.
