Onne Customs Rakes in Over 54billion in 3 Month, Seized 27 Containers

Joy Mmereole Okoli

The Onne Area 2 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday announced that it has generated a total revenue of Fifty-Four Billion, Nine hundred and Ninety-Two Million, One hundred and Twenty-Three thousand, Six hundred and Eighty-Seven naira, Fifteen kobo (₦54,992,123,687.15) from January to March, 2023.

The Onne Area 2 Controller, Comptroller B. Iman said this during a press conference with the media on activities of the command since he assumed the leadership of the command in January at Onne Port, Rivers.

This translates to 16.3 percent of 336 billion Naira as revenue target given to the Command for year 2023.

According to Imam, “When compared to the same period last year, the Command had an increase in revenue of One billion, One hundred and Thirty-Two Million, Nine hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand, Five hundred and Fifty-Six naira, Eighty-Two Kobo (₦1,132,925,556.82).

This figure realized is in spite of not having vessels berth in Onne Port for some time due to the election atmosphere, we look forward to continuous rise in revenue generation in the coming months as we expect vessels to berth on our coastline within the next few weeks.”

In the area of anti-smuggling, Comptroller Imam said the command recorded appreciable progress. According to him, “In anti-smuggling activities, within the past few weeks, since I assumed office, it has been a harvest of seizures justifying our committed resolve to facilitating only legitimate trade in line with the provision of extant laws.

This is made visible with the display of a total number of 27 containers which comprises, 26 seized containers and one detained container for violations or contraventions of various customs laws and breach of procedures as provided under the revised import prohibition guidelines (by trade) Schedule 3 Article 4 of the Common External Tariff 2022-2026, as well as Sections 46 Paragraph (b), (d), (e), (f) and 169 of Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 as amended.

While giving a breakdown of the total seizure he said two containers laden with 1,165 cartons of Analgin injection and Fireworks with other items. i.e (286 cartons of Analgin injection I.M.V) (2/5g/5ml) (Based on contravention of revised import prohibition guideline) (210 cartons of Banga, 273 cartons of W.Tail, 216 cartons of Coloured flowers, 180 cartons of Pops) (Based on absence of End user certificate).

The Controller assured that the seized cartons of Analgin injection will be handed over to NAFDAC in the spirit of interagency collaboration.

The remaining Twenty-Four (24) containers seized by the command were laden with refined vegetable oil comprising a total of 24,860 gallons of 25 and 10 litres La-Jonic vegetable oil. i.e (19,800 gallons of 25 litres and 5,060 gallons of 10 litres) with duty paid value of ₦833,172,538.42. (Based on false declaration and contravention of Schedule 3 Article 4 of C.ET)

“Similarly, One 20 ft container of machete was detained on documentation grounds pending provision of End user Certificate.

Gentlemen of the press, we cannot but underscore the necessity and imperativeness of synergy, collaboration and intelligence sharing, as the above seizures were made purely with intelligence gathered and 100% physical examination”.

“Nevertheless , I want to state here that investigation is still ongoing through our legal/intelligent unit to arrest the culprits and bring them to book as soon as possible.

It is worthy of note that importation of certain controlled items like Fireworks and machete requires End-User Certificate which is under the purview of the Office of the National Security Adviser, such importations without the Certificate are to be seized and forfeited to the Nigerian Government.

“The federal Government bans the Importation of refined vegetable oil in order to promote local production by our local industries, which in turn creates employment for Nigerians and to boost foreign exchange through export of such products.

“The seized containers would be filed for condemnation at the federal High Court Port Harcourt and shall subsequently be forfeited to the Federal Government.

“The Command shall continue to blaze the trail in trade facilitation and revenue generation activities through the deployment of intelligence gathering, collaboration and synergy with other critical stakeholders for the actualization of our statutory mandate.

"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 and his Management Team,” said Imam.

Comptroller Imam assured legitimate traders of trade facilitation. “For complaint traders of legitimate trade we assure you of trade facilitation while we would in accordance with the provision of the law deal with importers and agents who manifest a recalcitrant attitude to obeying the law", he stated.

The Controller asked to please continue to educate the public while the Command will continue to re-invigorate strategies that will enhance our performance.