The Nigeria Customs Service, Area 1 Command, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has generated a total sum of one hundred and sixteen billion, five hundred million, nine hundred and thirty thousand, nine hundred and fifty eight naira and eighty four kobo (₦116,500,930,958.84), in the year 2023.
The disclosure was made by the Customs Area Comptroller, Comptr. Mustapha Hashim, through a press statement made available to journalists by the Customs Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Superintendent of Customs Oscar Ivara in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
In the statement, Mustapha Hashim disclosed that the revenue, when compared with that of 2022, which stood at ninety two billion, three hundred and twenty nine million, eight hundred and eleven thousand, seven hundred and fifteen naira and forty kobo (₦92,329,811,715.40), attracted a significant difference of twenty four billion, one hundred and seventy one million, one hundred and nineteen thousand, two hundred and forty three naira (₦24,171,119,243).
According to the Comptroller, the difference in the collections represents a 26 per cent increase.
Speaking further, the Area comptroller stated that the Command had fared considerably well in the area of revenue generation, despite some daunting challenges in the maritime sector.
He revealed that during the period under review, that the Command had experienced its lowest influx of container cargoes into the Port, due to higher freight charges imposed by the shipping companies on importers.
However, the duties collected from Bulk Cargoes and Excise Factories had contributed to the amount of revenue collected in the Command. Significant milestones were achieved in the month of October, which stood at ₦13.301 billion, November, which stood at ₦12.879 billion and December, which was ₦12.288 as against ₦8.986 billion and ₦6.028 billion and ₦5.450 billion collected in the previous year respectively.
According to Comptr. Hashim: “These feat could not have been achieved without painstakingly engaging with our critical stakeholders through several forms of sensitization programs and other forms of trainings, particularly on issues of Non-conformity with statutory clearance procedures. And the feedback we got can be attributed to some of our successes.
“The Command also insisted that all unpaid assessments must be paid. In the area of export, 30,000mt of Charcoal, and 26,000mt of Zinc and Lead had been facilitated through the Ibeto Wharf and it is strongly believed that with the full take-off of the Ibeto Wharf, the Command will sustain a good import and export hub, as well as a sustainable revenue base.
“I am very optimistic that with the Command’s strategy of maximizing the collection of Customs duties, other levies, and payment of all unpaid assessments, the Command will surpass the revenue collected in 2023.
“Under my administration, the Command organized interactive sessions with all the government agencies operating in the port with the aim of fostering inter-agency collaborations and synergy.
“This interactive sessions were extended to Customs Licensed Agents through sensitization programs.
The corporation, support and brilliant contributions received from members of my management team had been very pivotal to our successes, especially in the areas of capacity building, value addition and revenue generation.
“We cannot thank the Comptroller General of Customs BA Adeniyi and his management team enough, for their timely support and encouragement towards the achievements of these successes.
“My special appreciation goes to the stakeholders operating in Area 1 Port. Particularly the Port Manager, Heads of Government Agencies, leadership of ANLCA, NAGAFF and members of the press, among others.
“Your support and encouragement throughout my stay in this port are immeasurable.
“Thank you.” Comptr. Hashim Stated.
