….. Educates the general public on Customs procedures
The Nigeria Customs Service, ( NCS), Area 2 Command Onne, has as at end of May 2024, generated a total revenue of Two hundred and Forty-Nine Billion, Seven hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Two hundred and Sixty-Eight thousand, Two hundred and Ninety-Eight naira, Twenty-Eight kobo (₦249,752,268,298.28) which translated to 50.4% of the initial target of #494Bill before it was reviewed to #618 Bil and 40.3% of the current annual target.
In the spirit of given account of his activities , gave an intensive lecture on Customs Operations mostly informed the general public on the procedures of containers movement form the port to Bonded Terminal and advised the stakeholders to adhere.
The Customs Area Controller ( CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede revealed this during a press briefing organized at the command’s conference room at Area 2 , Command Onne ,in Port harcourt Rivers State, on Friday the 21st of June 2024.
The CAC attributed the command’s success story to the cooperation from the officers and men of the Command , synergies with sister agencies and all stakeholders involved , who has made his work easy since assumption in the office , which is also in line with Policy Thrust of Consolidation and collaboration of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi .
Comptroller Babandede stressed that the revenue figures when compared to the same period last year, the Command had an increase in revenue generation of One hundred and Fifty-Three billion, Two hundred and Thirteen Million, Seven hundred Thousand, Four hundred and Fifty naira, fifteen Kobo (₦153,213,700,450.15).
He noted that despite all happenings in the month of June , e. g NLC strike, Democracy day and Sallah holiday, as at 21st of June, the Command has generated Forty-Three billion, Four hundred and Thirty Million, Two hundred and Sixty Seven Thousand, Two hundred and Ten naira ₦43,430,267,210.00 in the month,
He assured optimistically that the Command will surpass the annual target by the end of the year.
On anti-smuggling activities, we have on display six (6) 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 Sections 233, 234, 235, 245, 246 of Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
He emphasized that the disposal of the seized items shall be with the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in the spirit of inter-agency cooperation, synergy and in line with section 119 & 245 of the NCS Act 2023 to have it disposed
The seized items on display are as follows:
1. Four (4)x20 feet containers laden with bales of clothing, lace and fabrics i.e (96 jumbo size in total) with Duty Paid Value of ₦911,520,011.00.
2. Also seized were 2×40 feet containers laden with 2,625 cartons of cough syrup codeine, 80 cartons of Sildenatil Citrate tablets and 40 cartons of deluxe chilly cutter with Duty Paid Value of ₦2,250,654,000.00 (Based on concealment, false declaration, contravention of revised import prohibition guideline and section 55 Sub-section (1) paragraphs (C) and (I) of NCS Act 2023).
He said that the content contravenes the provision of the law which prohibits and restricts certain goods for the protection of the public health and safety. The total of the 7 seized containers stands at ₦3,188,454,452.
He stated that the above seizures were made purely from intelligence gathered and information sharing with sister agency alongside 100% physical examination.
He also used the opportunity to thanked NDLEA for their collaboration and inter-agency cooperation as seizures of this magnitude could not have been possible without their involvement.
However, he said that investigation is still ongoing through the Legal/Intelligent Unit to arrest the culprits and bring them to book as soon as possible.
“These containers are currently in our Government Warehouse and would be shown to members of the press shortly. The seized containers would be filed for condemnation at the federal High Court, Port Harcourt and shall subsequently be forfeited to the Federal Government”
He assured the media of their continuing efforts to address the service core responsibilities by employing various risk management strategies aimed at collecting revenue, identifying vulnerable leakages, gathering intelligence and facilitating trade.
“We cannot but underscore the necessity and imperativeness of leveraging on synergy, collaboration and intelligence sharing with sister agencies and stakeholders as it enhances our revenue drive and anti-smuggling feats.”.
“These deliberate and concerted efforts will guide us in contributing our quota towards realizing remarkable results in line with Vision and Mission of the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi mfr and His Management Team.”.
“I recognize the critical role the media plays, especially in the area of sensitization and public enlightenment, in order to achieve willful compliance to trade laws of all imports and export through this axis. Please continue to educate the public while the Command will continue to re-invigorate strategies that will enhance our performance”.
“In recent times the Command has observed that a lot of journalists have been asking questions related to Bonded Terminals and a large number of our journalist stakeholders are misinformed about the procedures hence the view that Containers moved to the bonded terminals are at the discretion of the Command.
He reiterated the core functions of Customs , that is trade facilitation, which entails a streamlined and simplified technical and legal procedure in clearing items entering or leaving Nigeria.
“These Procedures are guides in which all Customs Officers must adhere to. The final destination for clearing of any consignment into the Country is at the owner’s or importer’s discretion”.
He affirmed that the role cannot be altered by any customs officer including the Area Controller.
To start with, he said that the importer has to stipulate the Bonded Terminal or port that will be the final destination right at the country of exportation which is always indicated on the Bill of Laden and is transmitted via the shipping companies to the sea port which the vessel will berth.
He cleared the air about the believe that Onne officers connive with operators of Bonded Terminals to transfer containers to Bonded Terminals
Speaking further, he said that part of the procedure stipulates that these items moving to Bonded Terminals should be on Transire/Bond which is mandatory.
He said that the last procedure is escort from Onne Port to the bonded terminal.
According to him, all the procedures are strictly adhered by the Onne Customs Command, and that any infraction discovered in the course of physical examination will translate to Demand Notice in order to recover the shortfall in revenue paid or detention in our Government warehouse which will be converted to Seizure.
In conclusion he explained to the stakeholders about the seizures of codeine that was on transire to a Bonded Terminals but was stepped down for physical examination at the mother Port, due to intelligence reports, promised to phish out the economic saboteurs get them arrested with their goods forfeited to the Federal Government.
He has advised furthermore that members of the press can visit or contact the Public Relations Unit of the Command for any enquiries on activities and operations of the command.
