Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Area 2 Command, Onne, Rivers has said that it exceeded revenue target of N618 billion in 2024.
The Area Controller, Mr Muhammed Babandede disclosed this while addressing the press in Onne on Tuesday.
The controller noted that the command generated N643 billion during the year, with 25 million increase from its initial revenue target.
Babandede noted that the revenue accounted for about 103 per cent of 2024 annual target and that the figure exceeded 2023 target by N321b.
He said that the command made tremendous achievements in the campaign against smuggling and it earned them an award from the Comptroller-General.
The controller said, “During the year, the command confiscated a total of 76 containers with duty paid value of more than N150b.”
”The seizure comprised of arms, ammunition, illicit medicines, vegetable oil, foot wares, donkey skin, used cloths among others.”
Babadende further said that the command recorded major achievements in agro commodities and solid minerals export.
He said that minerals such as luminum ingot, granular urea, orange peel, sesame seeds, and wheat brain amounted to more than N1b export revenue.
The command’s boss said, “A recent seizure of 12 containers with duty paid value worth more than N20 million also formed part of the total revenue made in 2024.”
“The seizures were a confirmation of the command’s commitment to trade facilitation, transparency and effective service delivery.”
Babandede said that the command recently confiscated no fewer than one million bottles of cough syrup and five hundred thousand bottles of extra diclofenac.
He said, “Other items we confiscated are sanitary wares and fittings used for concealment of the illicit medicines.”
He commended the Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi for recognising the command as the best performing in anti-smuggling operations, and described it as a morale booster.