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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne Rivers State has generated ₦81.2b into Federal Government’s coffers in the third quarter of this year.
Customs Area Controller, Aliyu Galadima Saidu, who disclosed this during the operational assessment yesterday, said the command has increasingly deployed tact, intelligence enforcement and technology in ensuring maximum compliance by the port users.
He explained that the amount surpassed the ₦69.5b generated within the same period last year with over ₦11.6b.
He said the feat in revenue collection was the first of its kind in the history of the command, adding that the command also recorded 66 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦866m during the period under review.
He assured that the command was vigorously pursuing the Customs zero tolerance for duty evasion, smuggling and under declaration of goods, among others.
He listed the seizures made within the period to include: 13,180 jerry cans of 25 litres of vegetable oil with DPV of ₦82.5m; 8,706 cartons of foreign soap worth ₦79.4m; and 57,300 pieces of matches; 1,300 sacks of shovel; 100 cartons of hook knives, and 172 sacks of diggers, among others.
Other items seized are, a container-load of scrap metal of various sizes and types; 10,800 packs of corrugated aluminum roofing tiles/sheets and its accessories; 315 bales of textiles; 69 bags of imported rice; 329 bales of clothing; 160 logs of hardwood; 588 cartons of battery; 18 cartons of rolls PVC; 80 bundles of plain cartons and 10 keys of gum, among others.
Saidu said the seizures were made as a result of the renewed determination of the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) to rid the country of all forms of illegal importations.
He said the command has instituted a marching order to ensure that all importers/and their agents are compelled to comply with the extant laws on international trade.
He stated that there would be continuous sensitisation for stakeholders on the need to be compliant with extant laws governing Customs activities.