The Nigeria Customs Service, Onne Area II Command, Rivers State, has in the last 5 months, generated a total revenue 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), which translates to 50.4% of the initial target and 40.3% of the current annual target.
The 50.4% and 40.3% when compared to the same period last year, the Command 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).
In his first media briefing at the Command on the 21st June, 2024, the Customs Area Comptroller(CAC), Mr. Mohammed Babandede, shortly after giving a break down of the Command’s revenue generation, lauded NDLEA on its collaboration and inter-agency cooperation.
Commencing his speech at the press briefing, Comptr. Babandede said: “I am delighted to showcase our successes recorded so far, since I assumed duty as the Area Controller of the Command in April this year.
“Firstly, upon my arrival at the Command, I received briefings on activities of the Command from my predecessor, my Officers and stakeholders. Then, I embarked on courtesy visits to Bonded Terminals, various sister Agencies and had series of meetings with stakeholders to seek for their cooperation in terms of collaboration, synergy and information sharing, in line with the Controller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi mfr dsm fnipr fniia psc (+) Policy thrust of consolidation and collaboration. The result of these actions will be revealed shortly.
“I’ll start with revenue generation. The Command was initially given a target of 494 billion before it was reviewed two week ago to 618 billion naira as revenue target for year 2024. As at the end of May 2024, the Command had generated a total revenue 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), which translate to 50.4% of the initial target and 40.3% of the current annual target. When compared to the same period last year, the Command 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 holidays, 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.
“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.
“On anti-smuggling activities, we have on display six (6) seized containers for violations or contravention 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 today, we have on display a seized Container of used electronics which has turned to e-waste.
“As you are aware of the environmental effect such waste pose to human lives and 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.
“The seized items on display are as follows:
1. Four (4)x20 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.
2. 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 (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 content of these importations contravenes the provision of the law which prohibits and restricts certain goods for the protection of the public health and safety. Put together, the total Duty Paid Value of the 7 seized containers stands at ₦3,188,454,452.
“Let me state here that the above seizures were made purely from intelligence gathered and information sharing with sister agency alongside 100% physical examination.
“I want to also use this opportunity to thank the NDLEA for their collaboration and inter-agency cooperation as seizures of this magnitude could not have been possible without their involvement.
“Nevertheless, investigation is still ongoing through our Legal/Intelligent Unit to arrest the culprits and bring them to book as soon as possible.
These containers are currently in our Government Warehouse and would be shown to members of the press shortly.
“The seized containers would be filed for condemnation at the federal High Court, Port Harcourt and shall subsequently be forfeited to the Federal Government.
“Gentlemen of the press, 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. We cannot but underscore the necessity and imperatives of leveraging on synergy, collaboration and intelligence sharing with sister agencies and stakeholders as it enhances our revenue drive and anti-smuggling feats. These deliberate and concerted efforts will guide us in contributing our quota towards realizing remarkable results in line with Vision and Mission of the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and His Management Team.
“I recognize the critical role the media plays, especially in the areas of sensitization and public enlightenment, in order to achieve willful compliance to trade laws of all imports and export through this axis. Please continue to educate the public while the Command will continue to re-invigorate strategies that will enhance our performance.”
On the movement of cargoes to bonded terminals, Comptr. Babandede emphasised that: “In recent times the Command has observed that a lot of journalists have been asking questions relating to Bonded Terminals and a large number of our journalists stakeholders are misinformed about the procedures, hence the view that Containers moved to the bonded terminals are at the discretion of the Command. This view is erroneous, hence the need to set the record straight, as well as educate our friends, the press, stakeholders and the public on Bonded Terminal procedures.
“It is important to note that one of the core functions of Customs is trade facilitation, which entails a streamlined and simplified technical and legal procedure in clearing items entering or leaving Nigeria. These procedures are guides in which all Customs officers must adhere to.
“The final destination for clearing of any consignment into the country is at the owner’s or importer’s discretion. This cannot be altered by any customs officer including the Area Comptroller. Firstly the importer has to stipulate the Bonded Terminal or port that will be the final destination right at the country of exportation, which is always indicated on the Bill of Laden and is transmitted via the shipping companies to the sea port, which the vessel will berth.
“This negates the erroneous believe 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 to, 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 were on transire to a Bonded Terminal, but due to intelligence gathered, they were stepped-down for physical examination at the mother port. Hence, there is no hiding place for economic saboteurs in the Command. We would not only fish them out, but shall get them arrested with their goods forfeited to the Federal Government.
“Furthermore, members of the press can visit or contact the Public Relations Unit of the Command for any enquire on activities and operations of the Command.
“Thank you for coming and God bless.” Comptr. Babandede concluded.
