Onne Customs Hits 40.3% Annual Revenue Target, Collects N249B in 5 Months

Onne Customs Hits 40.3% Annual Revenue Target, Collects N249B in 5 Months

Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, in charge of the Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command Onne, has announced the collection of N249 billion in revenue from January to May 2024.

Comptroller Babandede, who disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday, 21 June 2024, stated that the Command was initially given a target of N494 Billion before it was reviewed two weeks ago to N618 Billion as a revenue target for the year 2024.

He said, “At the end of May 2024, the Command had generated a total revenue of N249,752,268,298.28, which translates to 50.4% of the initial target and 40.3% of the current annual target. Compared to the same period last year, the Command had an increase in revenue generation of N153,213,700,450.15”.

“It is worth noting that despite the NLC strike, Democracy Day and Sallah holiday, as of this morning, the Command has generated N43,430,267,210.00 in June 2024. We look forward to the continuous rise in revenue generation in the coming months, and we are optimistic that we will surpass the annual target by the end of the year”. The CAC affirmed.

On anti-smuggling activities, the command intercepted 6 Containers for violations 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 into e-waste. As you are aware of the environmental effect such waste poses to human lives. For 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 sections 119 & 245 of the NCS Act 2023 to have it disposed of”, Comptroller Babandede noted.

The seized items include;
4×20 feet containers laden with bales of secondhand clothing, lace and fabrics (96 jumbo sizes in total), 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 (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). All with a Duty Paid Value N3,188,454,452.

According to the Area Controller, the content of these importations contravenes the provision of the law, which prohibits and restricts certain goods to protect public health and safety.

He stated that the seizures were made purely from intelligence gathered and information sharing with a sister agency alongside 100% physical examination. “I want also to 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, an investigation is still ongoing through our Legal/Intelligence Unit to arrest the culprits and bring them to book as soon as possible”, he added.

Speaking further, the CAC noted that since he assumed office in April this year, he has embarked on courtesy visits to Bonded Terminals’ various sister Agencies and had a series of meetings with stakeholders to seek their cooperation, in line with the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi’s Policy thrust.