Customs Rakes in N249.7bn in May

May revenue from customs was N249.7 billion.

Nigeria Customs Service generates N249.7 billion in revenue for May 2024, exceeding target by 50.4% and surpassing last year's figure by over N100 billion.

According to information released by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Area 2 Command Onne, Rivers State, it brought in N249.7 billion in revenue in May 2024.

This was revealed on Friday, June 21 by Mohammed Babandede, the NCS Comptroller for Area 2 Command.

The figure, according to Babandede, who took office in April, is 50.4% of the service's initial goal for the year and is more than N100 billion more than it was at the same period last year.

He said, “The command was initially given a target of N494 billion before it was reviewed two weeks ago to N619 billion as revenue target for the year 2024.

Regarding the effectiveness of the command's anti-smuggling efforts, Babandede disclosed that seven containers—one of which included used devices that had become e-waste—worth a total of N3.1 billion in paid duties were found during the period under examination.

He added that the achievement came after a 100% physical inspection, information sharing with a partner agency, and intelligence gathering.

Babandede said, “On anti-smuggling activities, we have on display six seized containers for violations or contraventions of various customs laws and breach of procedures as provided under the revised import prohibition guidelines of the common external tariff 2022-2026, as well as section 233, 234, 235, 236 of Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

“Also today we have on display a seized container of used electronics which turned to e-waste. As you are aware of the environmental effect such waste poses to human lives, for disposal.

“We shall be working with the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency in the spirit of inter- agency cooperation, and synergy and in line with section 119 & 245 of the NSC Act 2023 to have it disposed.

“The seized items on display are as follows; four × 20 feet containers laden with bales of clothing, lace and fabrics (96 jumbo size in total) with duty paid value of N911,520,011.00.

“Also seized were 2x40 feet containers laden with 2,625 cartons of cough syrup codeine, 80 cartons of sildenafil citrate tablets and 40 cartoons of deluxe chilly cutter with duty paid value of N2,250, 065,000.00(based on concealment, false declaration, contravention od revised import prohibition guideline and section 55 subsection (1) paragraphs (C) and (I) of NCS Act 2023).”

Continuing, he said, “The contents of these importations contravene the provision of the law which prohibits and restricts certain goods for the protection of the public health and safety.”

The Area II boss cautioned that there is no hiding place for economic saboteurs in the command as they will be ferreted out, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law, even though he confirmed that the codeine seizures were in transit to bonded terminals but that they were stepped down for physical examination at the mother Port due to intelligence gathered.