The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Area II Command Onne Port, Rivers State Command has generated a total revenue of twenty-six billion, three hundred and eighty-eight million, seven hundred and fifty-four thousand, two hundred and forty-four naira and thirty-seven kobo (#26,388,754,244.37) from duty paid on imported goods within the last three months.
In the same vein, the Customs Area Controller said that the Command recorded ten (10) seizures of prohibited items with Duty Paid Value of five hundred and forty-three million, nine hundred and fifty-eight thousand, seven hundred and forty naira (#543,958,740.00) within the same period under review which spanned August 16, 2018 to date when the present Area Controller, Comptroller Aliyu Galadima Saidu took over the Command.
Giving the breakdown while addressing his maiden press conference at Onne Sea Port last week, Comptroller Galadima Saidu remarked that a comparative analysis report of the Command’s revenue profile shows that a total sum of #62,593,334,451.00 was generated between the months of January and October last year while #68,331,473,662.00 was generated between January and October this year.
The Customs Area Controller told newsmen that smuggling poised a high threat to both the economy and security of the country saying this is why those who engage in it are considered economic saboteurs since they engage in false declarations to evade the correct duty payment.
"Smugglers are the destroyers of the country's economy", he reiterated insisting that it is very unfortunate and disturbing that despite the wide awareness on the dire consequences of smuggling activities on economic growth and development, some citizens still find joy in perpetrating this evil act only for personal gains.
He stated however that the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Col. Ibrahim Hameed Ali (Rtd.) had zero tolerance for smuggling just as he emphasized that the Nigeria Customs Service will do everything in its capacity to sustain the tempo.
He said: "Over time, the Customs Area II Command, Onne, has bemoaned the incessant activities of smugglers within our territories, an activity which has wreaked so much havoc on the Nation's economy. We will not relent in intensifying our efforts to curb this menace."
The Customs Area Controller spoke further: "The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) is five hundred and forty-three million, nine hundred and fifty-eight thousand, seven hundred and forty naira (#543,958,740.00).
"Some suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures and have been transferred to the Customs Headquarters for further investigation.
The Command is equally facilitating export trade in both oil and non-oil sector; so far, the federal government of Nigeria has realised through export into National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) account, the total amount of one billion, four hundred and twenty million, two hundred and twelve thousand, nine hundred and thirty – seven naira, two kobo (#1,420,212,937.02.).
"At this juncture, I have to commend the dedication of my Officers and Men coupled with the cooperation of other Units like the Headquarters Strike Force Team, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), and the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) in the actualization of these achievements.
"We will continue to draw on our robust intelligence gathering strategy on seaport operations to ensure a secure environment for legitimate importation of goods.
"The Command under my watch will continue to deal decisively with the economic saboteurs, their agents and collaborators; and work for the security and well being of the people of Nigeria"
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