Customs Area I Command Port Harcourt Optimistic To Meet N79b Revenue Target – Official

The Area 1 Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Port Harcourt on Wednesday said that it would meet its N79 billion revenue target this year.
The command’s Public Relations Officer; Mr Harry Samuel, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the command was optimistic of meeting the target.
He said that the command exceeded its 2012 revenue target of N48 billion by N460 million.
Samuel said that the command was in charge of bulk cargoes which included rice and frozen fish, among other items.

The Area 1 Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Port Harcourt on Wednesday said that it would meet its N79 billion revenue target this year.
The command’s Public Relations Officer; Mr Harry Samuel, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the command was optimistic of meeting the target.
He said that the command exceeded its 2012 revenue target of N48 billion by N460 million.
Samuel said that the command was in charge of bulk cargoes which included rice and frozen fish, among other items.
He said rice importation generated the bulk of the revenue of the command in 2012, but noted that the 100 per cent import duty on rice had reduced the volume of its importation.
He said the 100 per cent duty had drastically reduced the profit margin of imported rice.
The customs spokesman said the Federal Government had increased the import duty on rice rather than outright ban.
Samuel appealed to importers to patronise the port to enable the command meet its revenue target
He said that the Ports Terminal Operators Ltd., a concessionaire in the port, had carried campaigns to Onitsha and Nnewi, the hubs of commerce in South- East.
Samuel said the campaigns were to persuade traders in the commercial centres to patronise the port.
He, however, said command would not compromise on the import duties collection, saying that “the tariffs are in Custom’s bible’’.
The spokesman urged the Federal Government to rehabilitate and dualise the road to the port to enhance evacuation of goods.