PORT HARCOURT CUSTOMS COMMAND’S REVENUE HITS N106 BILLION IN SIX MONTHS.
The Port Harcourt Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has achieved a remarkable revenue collection of N106 billion in the first six months of 2024, marking a significant milestone in the command’s operations.
In a recent document made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, the Customs Area Controller of the Command (CAC), Comptroller Mustapha Hashim, disclosed that the figure indicates a remarkable surplus of ₦57,982, 649,584.24 billion when compared to the first half of 2023 which stood at ₦48,611,085,885.67. This figure, according to the Area Controller, represents a 119% increase.
Comptroller Hashim noted that the revenue collected in each month of the first half exceeded the mandated monthly target, which was averaged at ₦15,351,810,843.46 in the first quarter of the year and ₦19,189,763,554.32 in the second quarter respectively.
“The efforts put in place by the Command to create an enabling environment for trade had played a major role in the astronomical rise in the revenue profile of the Area,” he observed.
The CAC disclosed that the revenue collected in the first half of the year made over 100% variance with the corresponding period of 2023, particularly in May and June, which stood at ₦25,016,776,741.72 and ₦20,541,439,793.02 thereby changing the revenue landscape when compared to the corresponding period of 2023 which had ₦6,212,770,109.89 and ₦9,549,716,028.678 respectively.
Comptroller Hashim said, “The increments varied from the different tax heads, which included Import duties, fees, excise duties, Value Added Tax (VAT), Federation Account levies and Non-Federation account levies which are all derived from various bulk cargoes such as Wheat, Bitumen, Salt, Frozen fish, among others.
Comptroller Hashim explained that as the Command is poised to make the environment more conducive to traders, emphasis will be placed on thorough physical examination to forestall smuggling.
He told newsmen that the Command is in full compliance with the Federal Government policy of Ease of Doing Business by ensuring that examinations are jointly conducted and clearance processes are in accordance with World Customs Organization enshrined standards.
While warning against the smuggling of illicit drugs or nefarious items such as arms and ammunition into the country, the Customs Area Controller highlighted
the Command’s synergy with all Government agencies working in the Port, particularly the NDLEA, Police and the Nigeria Immigration Service, to gather information and share intelligence, which will help to strengthen efficiency.
He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi and his management team for their continuous support to the Command. He further expressed optimism in the Command’s ability to break ground in revenue generation.
“The Command is in high spirits to surpass the expected annual revenue target of ₦230,277,162,651.85,” he concluded.
About The Author
