.Makes Seizures of 20 Containers worth N10.2bn
The Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne, Rivers State has wrapped up first quarter of year 2025 with remarkable achievements in its battle against smuggling and illicit trade, revenue generation and trade facilitation.
The Command, under the leadership of Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, recorded a 17.12% increase in revenue as against the figure generated in first quarter of 2024 and also makes seizures of twenty containers worth N10.2bn.
Speaking at a briefing held on Wednesday, 16 April 2025, the Area Controller disclosed that the Command generated the sum of One Hundred and Ninety Billion, Five Hundred and Sixty-nine Million, Two Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety-seven Naira, Forty-two Kobo (N190, 569,212,397.42) in the first quarter of 2025.
According to him, the figure shows a remarkable improvement of Twenty Seven Billion, Eight Hundred and Sixty-four Million, Six Hundred and Sixty-eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty-two Naira, Sixty-one Kobo (N27,864,668,442.61); from what was generated during the same period under review in 2024, with a figure of One Hundred and Sixty-two Billion, Seven Hundred and Five Million, Three Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Five Hundred Sixty-one Naira, Forty-eight Kobo (N162, 705,313,561.48).
“This represents a 17.12% increase against the first quarter of 2024,” he said.
On enforcement activities, Comptroller Babandede revealed that a total of 20 containers were seized from January to March 2025 including- 1 X 40ft Container TLLU6901759 STC 158,400 bottles of Codeine Syrup (100mls each) and 11,690 pieces of Chilly Cutter; 1 X 40ft Container MRKU 2117319 STC 158,400 bottles of Barcadin with Codeine Syrup (100ml each) and 240 pieces of Local Sanitary Wares; 2 X 40ft Containers MRKU4875853 & TCNU2623453 STC 271,000 bottles of Codeine Syrup (100ml each), 85,000 bottles of CSMIX with Codeine (100ml), 1,200 pieces of Cock and 94 cartons of sanitary wares and 21 cartons of TBS rubber; 4 X 20ft containers PCIU0094329, PCIU1014858, PCIU1367243, & PCIU00229679 STC 64,416 X (400mg each) tins of Soupy Tomato Paste, 16,104 X (200mg each) tins of Soupy Tomato Paste; 1 X 40ft Container MEDU7751984 STC 280 bales of used clothes and 2 cartons of toys; 6 X 20ft Containers MEDU6909397, TGBU3174254, CAIU6719204, TTNU1932358, GLDU5050514 & MEDU2120820 STC 6,300 X (25litres each) Jerry cans of Delicieux Cooking Oil; 2 X 20ft Containers GLDU3216822 & MEDU1266507 STC 2,100 Jerry cans of Super Gold Vegetable Cooking Oil (25ltrs each); 1 X 40ft TCKU7701615 STC 980,000 tablets of Tamol-X, 4,830,000 Capsules of Pregabalin (300mg each) and 288 cartons of WC; 1X 40ft container MSMU5925355 STC 320 bales of used clothes; 1 X 40ft container TCKU 6160305 STC 360 bales of used clothing, 2 bags of personal effects and 1 box of personal effects.
He attributed the successful seizures to products of courage, bravery, high level of integrity, and self-determined posture of the officers that are patriotic to their oath of allegiance; who exhibited through objective and careful examination, meticulous documentary checks and professionalism.
“The cumulative duty paid value (DPV) of the seized goods presented is worth Ten Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety-three Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-seven Thousand, Forty Naira (N10, 293,677,040.00),” he added.
Speaking further, the Controller informed that the Command exported 1.274, 695MTS comprising of mostly agricultural products and solid minerals. “The total products exported stood at a value of Two Billion, Three Hundred and Forty-five Million, Two Hundred and Sixty-eight Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty-two Naira (2,345,268,122),” he revealed.
Leveraging on the Modernization Project deployed by the Service, the Command also achieved remarkable results in efficient release of containers.
“We trained stakeholders on the B’odogwu Unified Information Management System in order to understand the modality of its operation for efficiency in the clearing procedure and better revenue collection.
“Also, in our continued effort to collaborate with all agencies of government for better results in service delivery. I am handing over a 1x20ft Container found to contain donkey skin meant for export to the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service,” Comptroller Babandede noted.
