Zone C ACG Commends Calabar/CRFTZ/Akwa Ibom Command Over ₦24.4B H1 Revenue, Stresses Continued Focus on Trade Facilitation.
The Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Customs Service, Zone C Headquarters, Port Harcourt, ACG Sambo Dangladima, has charged the officers and men of the Calabar/CRFTZ/Akwa Ibom States Command to remain committed to the facilitation of legitimate trade, effective revenue generation, and the suppression of smuggling.
ACG Dangladima disclosed this during a visit to the Customs Command in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, as part of a two-day working tour of Customs formations in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
Speaking further, the Zone C Coordinator stated:
“The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has directed all ACGs not to remain confined to their offices, but to go out, engage with officers and men, interact with critical stakeholders, and identify challenges—all with the aim of fostering unity, collaboration, and synergy across all Commands.”
In his words: “I am here today to familiarize myself with you, engage with our stakeholders, understand your concerns, and discuss your challenges with the aim of addressing them,” he said.
He continued:
“The need for synergy and collaboration between officers, men, and stakeholders is critical. Our core responsibilities remain the facilitation of legitimate trade, plugging revenue leakages, generating revenue for the Federal Government, and, most importantly, suppressing smuggling.”
The ACG added, “The essence of interpersonal relationships among officers and men is to cultivate a spirit of self-discipline and mutual respect for one another.”
He emphasized that the image they project to the public plays a significant role in shaping the perception of the Service—either positively or negatively.
Speaking on the recent promotion exercise, the ACG reaffirmed:
“The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has zero tolerance for the manipulation of examination results related to promotions. He is personally committed to ensuring transparency in the entire process.”
He further stated,
“Management is responsible for marking the scripts, and none of us knows the identity of the candidates whose scripts we are assessing. So, when the promotion list is released, it should be accepted as it is—a true reflection of each officer’s performance.”
ACG Dangladima stated:
“Let me be honest with you—the Comptroller-General of Customs is committed to promoting deserving officers and men. However, not everyone can be promoted at the same time. Promotion is from God, and if you didn’t receive it this time, yours is on the way. God’s timing is always the best.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Chukwudi G Ogbonna, has expressed satisfaction with the ACG’s visit insisting that the working visit was a morale buster for his officers and men and also an avenue to interact with stakeholders.
Compt Ogbonna, said, “The Command has recorded a significant achievement in Revenue generation, Exports, and Suppression of smuggling.” Adding, “On Revenue Generation, the command has generated twenty-four billion, four hundred and thirteen million, seven hundred and seventy thousand, sixty one naira (N24,413,770,061.00) only in the first half of 2025, representing about 53% of the 2025 target.”
He added, “This achievement is attributed to effective
synergy with critical stakeholders, improved operational strategies and optimal enforcement of the extant laws.”
The CAC revealed, “The breakdown of the revenue generated was as follows; Tinapa Tourist and Resort FTZ; In 2023, was sixteen million, six hundred and forty thousand, fifty-nine naira (N16,640,059.00) only collected as revenue.”
Comptroller Ogbonna, posited, “In 2024 when I took over as the Customs Area Controller
(CAC), we improved the revenue to two hundred and twenty-one million, four hundred and forty thousand, two hundred and nine naira (N221,440,209.00) only.”
Adding, “This feat is a magnificent increase compared to revenue collected in previous years.”
On Exports promotion, the CAC, said, “The Command carried out exports of both non-oil and oil products during the period of January to June 2025 and recorded
a volume of forty-three thousand and twenty-eight (43,028) packages & forty-two thousand (42,000) cartons of various products which have been exported out of the country from the Export Processing Zone,
Calabar Free Trade Zone.”
“More so a volume of one million, eight hundred and sixteen thousand, eight hundred and fifty-six (1,816,856) cartons of various products have been exported out of the country from Tinapa Tourist & Resort FTZ.”
“In addition, Fifty-three million, eleven thousand and twenty-one (53,011,021) barrels were lifted in fifty-four (54) vessels according to Federal
Government allocation from Qua-Iboe Terminal (QIT), operated as a joint Venture between SEPLAT and NNPC/MPNU.”
On Suppression of Smuggling activities, the Comptroller Ogbonna, reiterated, “In our quest to suppress smuggling activities, the Command has made the following remarkable interception/seizures; In March 2025, the Command at the Mfum Border Station intercepted parts of animals discovered to be Endangered species which include Parrot heads (213 pcs), Parrots feathers (29 packs), African Hornbill birds (128 pcs), Chimpanzee heads (2 pcs), Chimpanzee legs (4pcs), Chimpanzee hands (4 pcs), Eagle heads (5 pcs) and Eagle feathers(1 pack) alongside a suspect of which the matter is still in court.”
“In April 2025, also “Sixty-five (65) Gallons of 25 liters each of PMS and 12 bales, 3 sacks of second-hand clothing were intercepted and seized.”
Adding, “in April 2025, illicit pharmaceutical products (659 units) were intercepted by the officers of the Command and was later handed over to
the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Headquarters instruction.”
Comptroller Ogbonna, posited, “The Command also made a seizure of Pangolin scales (4 bags)
weighing (119.4kg) in June 2025; with two (2) suspects undergoing prosecution process, even as he attributed the achievements through intelligence provided by the CIU and effective border patrols by the customs gallant officers.”
On Trade Facilitation, the CAC reassured, “The Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) known as B’ odogwu was launched and is now operational in the Command.” He insisted that as a milestone, the
Command’s first SGD was successfully captured, assessed and payment made on 17 June, 2025 under , 05CA, using the B’ Odogwu system.
The CAC opined, “The introduction of B’Odogwu is a significant step towards modernization and efficiency in the clearance procedures as both the officers of the Command and Stakeholders have undergone a comprehensive training and sensitization, to ensure
effective utilization of the platform.”
He promised his resolution and committment to optimizing the platform’s benefits to enhance the operations and service delivery of his command.
On discipline and good conduct, Comptroller Ogbonna, said, “The Command has maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards officer’s misconduct, corruption and substance abuse and it has been a standard practice in the command that any officer found culpable is made to face the appropriate disciplinary sanction.”
On adherence to the CGC’S fiscal policy thrust, Comptroller Ogbonna, said, “The command as a member of the State Security Council is working and collaborating with other security agencies in the State such as the Military, Police, NSCDC, Immigration, the DSS and others to combat trans-border crimes of smuggling and illegal migration, as well as providing security in the State even in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility the Command had drilled a borehole at Ajassor Community, Etung LGA; serving the host community by providing clean water for the
community’s consumption.”
However, the CAC listed some of the challenges facing the command to include; Underutilization of Calabar Sea Port; Port’s shallow channel and inability to accommodate large cargo vessels which is almost
impossible for importers to bring consignment through the port. “Others are Inconsistent Power Supply as a result of bad public transformer and constant increase
in electricity tariff.”
The CAC disclosed that the Command has written to the Headquarters requesting for an urgent installation of Transformer and installation of Solar System to reduce
the use of public electricity and increment of the monthly Electricity bill from Headquarters.
In addition, Compt Ogbonna, added, “The Cameroon Crisis has resulted to instability and insecurity due to the persistent conflicts between the Government of Cameroon and the Ambazonian separatist creating a climate of fear and uncertainty in the region, thus impacting negatively and disrupting trade flow between Cameroon and Nigeria particularly in the affected border regions.”
On the paucity of staff, the CAC said, “The shortage of officers is really affecting the command even as the Command has only two (2) Deputy Comptrollers and three (3) Assistant Comptrollers and the command needs junior officers.”
Finally, the Customs Area Controller, stated that, “The command has demonstrated remarkable performance in terms of revenue collection, suppression of smuggling and trade facilitation which is a testament of the dedication and hard work of the gallant officers and men of the Command who are up and doing.”
“However we regretted the challenge of lack of junior officers which badly affects the operational activities in the Command but we are optimistic of junior staff deployment even as we expressed our gratitude and congratulations to the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC, Bashir ADENIYI MFR who was recently elevated as the Chairman of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council.
He described the achievement as timely and deserving and expressed his belief that CGC’s
expertise and pragmatic leadership style in that capacity would certainly improve
the NCS’s efforts in facilitating trade, enforcing regulations, and promoting national development.
In his remarks, the ANLCA Calabar chapter chairman, Dr Uche Ohaegbuchi, has commended the ACG . Sambo Dangladima on his visit. Ohaegbuchi who applauded the development, said, “ACG Dangladima’s visit has offered me and my members including other stakeholders the opportunity for personal interaction with the Customs Zone C boss.”
The ANLCA chieftain regretted the state of the ITU/Calabar road and the shallow draft of the Calabar River which he said has impacted negatively on clearing and forwarding business, but he however called on the relevant authorities to expedite action on construction of the road as well as Dredging the River.
Commenting on the Comptroller Ogbonna’s performance since assumption of office, the ANLCA chairman said, ” I will score Comptroller Ogbonna 80,%. He has really done well in terms of stakeholders engagement, Revenue generation and suppression of Smuggling.”
He enjoined his members to be patient and law abiding noting that with ACG Dangladima’s visit things will improve for better.
Other places visited include Liberty Oli and Gas Free Trade Zone Akwaibom state, Calabar Freeze Trade Zone, Authority.
Tinapa Business Resort among others.
Present at the occasion include representatives of Liberty Oil And Gas Free Trade Zone Authority, Mr Ashok Suvarna and Mr Kumar, Director Nigeria Export Processing Zones Hajia Binta Saeed represented Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authorities while Dr Francis Ekom, Manager Tinapa Business Resort was equally present. Others include representatives of MWUN, ANLCA Bonded terminal Operators among others.
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