Port Harcourt Area 1 Customs Rakes In N106bn In Six Months
By Asuquo Nuwak
The Port Harcourt Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has achieved a remarkable revenue collection of N106 billion in the first six months of 2024, marking a significant milestone in the command’s operations.
According to the statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, the Customs Area Controller of the Command (CAC), Comptroller Mustapha Hashim, disclosed that the figure shows a remarkable surplus of ₦57,982, 649,584.24 billion when compared to the first half of 2023, which stood at ₦48,611,085,885.67.
This figure, according to the Customs Area Controller, represents a 119% increase.
Comptroller Hashim, noted that the revenue collected in each month of the first half year exceeded the mandated monthly target, which was averaged at ₦15,351,810,843.46 in the first quarter of the year and ₦19,189,763,554.32 in the second quarter respectively.
He noted that, the measures and efforts put in place by the Command, has created an enabling environment for trade and had played a major role in the astronomical rise in the revenue profile of the Command.
Comptroller Mustapha Hashim, disclosed that revenue collected in the first half of the year was over 100% variance with the corresponding period of 2023, particularly in May and June, which stood at ₦25,016,776,741.72 and ₦20,541,439,793.02 thereby changing the revenue landscape when compared to the corresponding period of 2023 which had ₦6,212,770,109.89 and ₦9,549,716,028.678 respectively.
According to Comptroller Hashim, “the increments varied from different tax heads, which included import duties, fees, excise duties, Value Added Tax (VAT), Federation Account levies and Non-Federation account levies which are all derived from various bulk cargoes such as wheat, bitumen, salt, frozen fish, among others”.
Comptroller Hashim, who disclosed that the Command is poised to make the environment more conducive to traders, also emphasised the need for thorough physical examination to forestall smuggling.
He told Journalists that the Command is in full compliance with the Federal Government policy of Ease of Doing Business by ensuring that examinations are jointly conducted and clearance processes are in accordance with World Customs Organization enshrined standards.
Apart from this, he warned smugglers against smuggling of illicit drugs or nefarious items such as arms and ammunition into the country. Again, he highlighted
the Command’s synergy with all Government agencies working in the port, particularly the NDLEA, Police and the Nigeria Immigration Service, who gather information and share intelligence, which eventually help to strengthen efficiency.
He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi and his management team for their continuous support to the Command, while expressing optimism in the Command’s ability to break ground in revenue generation.
In conclusion, he said, “the Command is in high spirits to surpass the expected annual revenue target of ₦230,277,162,651.85”.
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