1Quater, Onne Customs Hits N54.9bn Revenue, Seizes 27 Containers of Contraband Goods

Comptroller Baba Imam addressing journalists 

The  Nigeria Customs Service,  (NCS) Onne Customs Command Rivers state says, it has collected a total revenue of N54, 992,123, 687.15 as at March 28th , 2023.While it has  also intercepted and seized 27 Containers of Contraband Goods within the same period under review. 

Briefing journalists, Tuesday, on the activities of the Command, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Baba Imam said  that since he assumed duty as the Area controller of the Command in January this year, a foundation to a successful discharge of the Service mandates and responsibilities of Revenue collection, Suppression of Smuggling, Trade facilitation and implementation of other Government fiscal policies started insisting that .” I started by receiving briefings on the workings of the Command from my predecessor, my Officers and Stakeholders, I embarked on courtesy visits to various sister agencies to seek for their cooperation in terms of collaboration, synergy and information sharing. The Command in its various visits and meetings was emphatic, that it would only welcome complaint traders who are willing to operate in accordance with import and export guidelines. The evidences of these visits and meetings will be made known shortly”, he posited .

He noted that “in revenue generation, the Command was given a target of N336bn as revenue target for year 2023. As at today the Command has generated a total revenue of ₦54,992,123,687.15 which translates  to 16.3% of the target. When compared to the same period last year the Command had an increase in revenue of ₦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 anti-smuggling activities, the Comptroller said within the past few weeks he assumed office, it has

been a harvest of seizures justifying their committed resolve to facilitating only legitimate trade in line with the provision of extant laws.

Hence according to him, ” This is made visible with the display of a total of 27 containers which comprises, 26 seized Containers and One detained container for violations or contravention 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.”

He maintained that, the seizures and detention were made base on infractions related to import guidelines, which included: Contraband Goods, False declaration, End user certificate requirement from the office of the National Security Adviser, NAFDAC permit/license among others in line with the Federal Government fiscal policies.

The 24 containers 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 CEMA.

Also seized were other 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 total Duty Paid Value for the containers is put at ₦94,652,168.39.

Similarly, a 20ft container of machete was detained on documentation grounds pending provision of End user Certificate. Comptroller Imam stated that the feat recorded by the Command was due to the collaboration and synergy with other critical stakeholders for the actualization of Customs statutory mandate he added that these deliberate and concerted efforts would guide the command in contributing their quota towards realizing remarkable results in line with Vision and Mission of the Comptroller General of Customs and His Management Team. 

“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.

Concluding, he said "I want to bring to your notice that, in line with the global best practices and the Controller General of Customs resolve in trade facilitation, the Command reconstituted the dispute resolution team headed by the DC Revenue in order to facilitate trade and give fair hearing to stakeholders and importers with genuine or legitimate complaint about their consignment.

 “Additionally, in order to bring stakeholders involved or engaged in importation and exportation up to speed with the best International practice and knowledge required for such operation, our compliant stakeholders who believed the Command should have a conducive training and meeting center initiated as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility to assist in the construction of a conference room that will serve a dual purposes. I am glad to inform you that work on the Conference/ training center is almost completed, and within the next few weeks we shall be commissioning the center.”

 

Credit: Bon Peters in ph.