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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area 2 Onne Command, located in Rivers State, has exceeded its 2024 revenue target, generating N634 billion, thus surpassing its N618 billion target.
The achievement marks a 98 percent increase over the previous year’s performance, showcasing the Command’s commitment to boosting Nigeria’s revenue collection.
Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) for Onne Command, made this announcement during a year-end press briefing on Tuesday, where he also highlighted the Command’s dedication to ensuring public health and national security. “The N634 billion collected represents a significant milestone for the Command. It is a testament to the hard work and diligence of our officers, and we are proud to surpass our target,” Babandede said.
In addition to the revenue milestone, the Onne Command concluded the year with a major anti-smuggling victory. The Command seized 12 containers containing illicit drugs and other prohibited items, with a duty-paid value of N20,309,890,800. Babandede described the seizure as a demonstration of the Command’s unflinching commitment to safeguarding Nigerians from harmful substances.
“This latest seizure underscores our commitment to protecting public health and ensuring national security. The officers and men of the Onne Command have worked tirelessly to ensure that illicit drugs and dangerous goods do not enter our country,” he stated.
Among the intercepted items were 1,721,100 bottles of codeine cough syrup, 510,000 tablets of Diclofenac, and 7.1 million tablets of Tramadol. Other seized goods included sanitary fittings, chilly cutters, and various other concealed items.
Babandede further revealed that the Onne Command had recorded 76 container seizures in 2024, with a duty-paid value of N150.8 billion. These included arms, ammunition, illicit drugs, vegetable oil, used clothing, donkey skins, and other uncustomed goods. “Our success in anti-smuggling operations is a direct reflection of the teamwork and resilience of our officers.
The recognition we received as the Best Command in Anti-Smuggling Operations this year is a testament to our dedication,” Babandede added.
Highlighting the success of his officers, Babandede shared that eight officers were specially promoted by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in recognition of their significant role in intercepting 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition earlier in the year.
Beyond anti-smuggling operations, the Onne Command also contributed significantly to Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts by processing 2.7 million metric tonnes of agro and mineral exports. This included sesame seeds, aluminum ingots, and granular urea, with a Free on Board (FOB) value of $952.98 million (approximately N1.26 trillion).
“Our export performance demonstrates that Onne Port is a critical driver of non-oil export growth. We are proud to be contributing to Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy,” Babandede noted.
Reflecting on the remarkable achievements of 2024, Babandede attributed the success to a strong spirit of collaboration, engagement, and intelligence sharing. “This is a result of stakeholder engagement, collaboration, and purposeful actions. We have shown that with determination, extraordinary results are possible,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2025, Babandede called for continued cooperation among all stakeholders. “We achieved these results through synergy and partnership. I urge everyone, importers, exporters, the media, and the public, to continue supporting our efforts. Together, we can ensure a safer, healthier, and more prosperous nation,” he concluded.
