Generates Over N25b Q1 2019

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Aliyu Galadima Saidu of the Onne Customs Command has reiterated his resolve to to ensure continuous partnering with the media to educate  general public on our core mandate of Revenue Collection, Facilitation of Legitimate Trade, and Enforcement of the Fiscal Policies of the Federal Government in terms of Trade.

The CAC in a ststement stated that the Onne Command as part of the Internal Security architecture of the port axis in the Eastern region will continue to partner with other Security Agencies and synergize in order to realize their shared mandates in the the area in particular and the entire country.

Evidently, the the ststement shows that the Command generated a total of Ninety–Four Billion, Forty-Four Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty-Eight Naira and one kobo (N94,044,676,428.01) in 2018 which is about 80% of allotted Annual Target of ₦117.8 Billion. A comparative review of the preceding year shows that the Command realized Three Hundred and Seventy-Three Million, Two Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety Naira, and Seventy-Four Kobo (₦373,226,990.74) more than it did in 2017 bringing it to about 0.35% increase in the Revenue Collection.

Specifically, when relating the revenue collected and seizures to the operational strategies used, I am happy to inform you that the Command focused mainly on intelligence base risk profiling of our system with 100% physical examination of cargo at the various Terminals and Sheds.

Regular meetings and sensitization of stakeholders on the need and benefits of compliance; application of due diligence and professionalism in documentation and examination of cargoes; and importantly, building synergy with other relevant government agencies such as NAFDAC, SON, Port Health, NDLEA and other sister security agencies especially Navy, Police and Immigration for information which has proven to be useful at crucial moments are efforts that culminated in the recorded achievements.

With such sustained efforts, the Command also recorded sixty-one (61) remarkable seizures of various items such as 9 x 40 ft containers of Tramadol, Hyergra, Diclofenac and Analgesic Tablets of different types; 64 of 20 containers of foreign parboiled rice and other items such as military uniforms, boots and caps with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Billion, Six Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Three Naira (₦1,617,153,753.00).

A comparative review of the seizure profile of 2017 revealed that the year 2018 surpassed with 37 seizures and DPV of ₦1,147,142,275 bringing to about 60.7% increase in seizures and 70.9% increase in DPV as regards to general enforcement. More so, we seized one hundred and twenty-six (126) containers which is 81% increase of the twenty-four (24) containers confiscated in the preceding year 2017.

All the  seizures made are because various infractions such as false declaration, concealment, wrong classification, import without end user certificate and complete disregards of import and export guidelines with intent to bring into the country illicit goods.

The Command emphasize that smuggling pose a high threat to both the national economy and security and that is why those who engage in it are considered as economic saboteurs. They are the destroyers of the country’s economy, because they want to evade payment of import duty and import items that are security threat to the nation.

The CAC notes that it is worrisome and very unfortunate that despite the wide awareness on the dire consequences of smuggling activities on economic growth and development, some citizens still find joy in perpetuating this evil act only for their personal gains.

The Command, in furtherance of its economic objectives, works in synergy with other Customs Units such as the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), Valuation, CG’s Strike Force and Post Clearance Audit (PCA) to achieve maximum compliance to the extant laws on import and export for increased revenue generation; and anti-smuggling feat.

The Onne Command as well recorded a high level of compliance on export declarations. A total of 136,973,413.92 metric tonnes of exported goods with a total Free On Board (FOB) value of $1,126,516,635.9 which is equivalent to ₦409,083,251,160.73 (@ #363.14 per dollar) was realized.

Already, the Command has been able to generate the sum of ₦25,561,932,417.78 when compare to ₦18,857,668,490.00 generated in the first quarter of 2018, accrued to 26.2 percent increase. We recorded seizures of nine (9) containers comprising 57,300 pieces of machetes without end-user certificates; 2,000 Jerry Cans of 25 litres of vegetable oil; 6,456 cartons of foreign soap; 535 bales and 142 cartons of wears; and 69 bags of foreign rice with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦106,889,670.00

The overall achievement is sequel to the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs and his Management Team with the full deployment of NICIS II application in the Command which necessitated training of five hundred and twenty (520) Officers/Men, and the resultant effect has yielded an intrinsic advantage in terms of revenue, control of infractions in the system and increased compliance level as a result of the additional functionalities. Furthermore, the Command has started in-house training of its Officers and Men on trade facilitation with emphasis on oil and gas equipment.

The Command promises not to rest on its oars as it strives  to make sure that this year achievement surpasses the ones of last year.

The Command stresses its commitment to achieve speedy clearance of cargo from the ports, and also reduce the cost of doing business in the Maritime Industry owing to the Presidential directives on Ease of Doing Business and  insist on zero tolerance of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) for smuggling which remains unalterable as the Service will do everything within its capacity to fight it to a standstill.

Controller Aliyu Saidu Galadima appeal to stakeholders to continue to live upright in their declarations, observe due diligence and professionalism in proper documentation to avoid the negative consequences of contravening the law.