Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Area II Command Onne Port says it has generated a total revenue sum of N81,196,697,858.57 in the third quarter of the year 2019.
This amount generated, according to the Command surpassed the sum of N69,535,174,318.38 that was collected within the same period under review in 2018 with over N11,661,523,540.19.
Onne Customs Area Controller, Aliyu Galadima Saidu, said the feat in increasing revenue collection is first of its kind in the history of the command, as a result of the strategic plans aimed at enhancing the revenue collecting capacity in Onne Port.
Saidu in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Area II Command, Onne, Ms Ifeoma Onuigbo Ojekwu, said he has increasingly deployed tact, intelligence enforcement and technology in ensuring maximum compliance by users of the port.
The Onne Customs Comptroller said the Command also recorded a total of 66 seizures with Duty Paid Value of N865,926,821.00 for the period under review.
He said seizures were successfully accomplished as a result of the renewed determination of the Comptroller-General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) to rid the country of all forms of illegal importation.
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“The command under Comptroller Galadima is also vigorously pursuing the Comptroller-General of Customs zero tolerance for duty evasion, smuggling and other infractions like under declaration and so on.
“The command has been reviving proficiency in the area with regards to identifying and blocking all possible avenues of revenue leakages; enhancing capacity building in areas of modern Customs Operations; reinforcing the commitment of Officers and men in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities and assuring to bring to book any erring officer found compromising.
“There will be continuous sensitization for stakeholders on the need to be compliant with extant laws governing Customs activities.
“Seizures made within the period are, 12 containers comprising 13,180 jerry cans of 25 litres of vegetable oil with DPV of N82,517,024.00; Five containers comprising of 8706cartons of foreign soap worth N79,497,617.00; Two containers respectively loaded with 57,300 pieces of matches, 59 cartons of matches, 1,300 sacks of shovel, 100 cartons of hook knives, 172 sacks of diggers, all amounted to N52,463,002.00; One 40ft container loaded with scrap metal of various sizes and types worth N5,386,979.00.
“Others are 41 containers comprising of 181,800 packs of corrugated aluminium roofing tiles/sheets and its accessories with DPV of N561,753,188.00; One container comprising of 315 bales of textiles (wax material) worth N18,495,395.00; 69 bags of imported rice and 329 bales of clothing amounted to N10,725,658.00; Four containers of 160 logs of hardwood with DPV of N10,342,838.00; One container comprising of 588 cartons of battery, 18 cartons of rolls PVC, 80 bundles of plain cartons and 10 kegs of gum worth N20,654,664.00.
“Nonetheless, the Area Controller placed a marching order to ensure that all importers and their agents are compelled to comply with the extant laws on international trade, reiterated the Service zero tolerance for false declaration of goods or other deliberate infractions; and assured the readiness of the Command to facilitate trade in line with global best practices to all honest and compliant importers/agents. ”
