By Tony Nzekwe
The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, has called on the federal government of Nigeria for urgent intervention at the Port Harcourt Port to create enabling environment and activate efforts to generate more revenue generation into the federal coffers.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Leke Abejide, disclosed this information during an oversight function of the committee at the Port Harcourt port. He also commended the commitment and efforts of the Customs Area Controller, Compt. Mustapha Hashim, for generating ₦56.1Billion in the first quarter of the year 2025.
Earlier in his remarks, the zonal coordinator, Zone C, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, ACG Sambo Dangaladima, said, ” We are glad to receive the House Committee on Customs and Excise who are on oversight function in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal government aimed to assess and evaluate the activities of the service and create laws for improve service delivery and operational efficiency. ”
In his presentation, the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Compt Mustapha Hashim, said, “The Command has generated ₦56. Billion in the first quarter of 2025 with a statistical difference of ₦12.5Billion collected same period in 2024 which stood at 28.6%.”
He added, ” The command revenue target is ₦216Billion for 2025 and the command had also generated over ₦18Billion from 1st to 22 April 2025 which has already exceeded ₦17.4Billion collected in April 2024.”
Compt Mustapha Hashim, reassured, ” The Command will do everything possible within the ambits of the law to raise revenue collection heights in the year 2025.”
On Anti- Smuggling activities, CAC, posited, ” The command has relentlessly fought against smuggling activities in the ports which has led to several arrests and handing over of intercepted animals and plants to the appropriate government agencies in line with the convention on international trade in Endangered Species of Wild fauna and flora (CITES) and the command impounded 9 packages of Tafradol- 200mg tablets at the NAHCO SHED of the Port Harcourt port International Airport.”
In the same vein, during his presentation, the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’, Owerri, Compt. Bishi Balogun, has said, “The FOU Zone C has made great success in trade facilitation, revenue generation, implementation of government fiscal policy, combating smuggling activities and illicit items across it’s area of jurisdiction. ”
Compt Balogun, asserted, “The Command recorded the following seizures without need to fire any single shot or use physical violence; a team of gallant officers and men of the FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri, working on intelligence intercepted 2425 pieces of used tyres; intelligence driven operations of our officers and men led to the arrest and seizure of 647 bales of second clothing; the roving patrol team of the unit on a credible stop and search operation was able to arrest and detain 2762 Rolls of 60 Yard Each satin mirror dull face; the Rapid Response officers and men if the unit on a credible intelligence patrol intercepted a Truck load of smuggled 3,400 cartons of foreign spaghetti made in Turkey; the team of intelligence roving squad intercepted 25 blocks of Cannabis Sativa and the command arrested 233 sacks of 2kg and 50kg Foreign Parboiled Rice and 14 bags of 50kg rice. ”
Compt Balogun posited, ” From my date of my assumption of office as CAC FOU Zone ‘C’ precisely 20th March 2025 to 20 April 2025, the unit has recorded over 30 various interceptions/ detentions and over 10 categories of seizures of un- customs and illicit substances within the zone and with a total Duty Paid Value ( DPV) of 1,010,113,880.00 ( One billion, ten million, one hundred and thirteen thousand, eight hundred and eighty naira only) and the unit also raised additional Demand Notices ( DN) totaling ₦13, 451,848.00 ( Thirteen Million, four hundred and fifty one thousand, eight hundred and forty eight naira only) within the period under review.
In his remarks, the former Chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, opined, ” The Nigeria Customs Service has continued to create enabling environment and robust synergies in trade facilitation as reflected in improved revenue generation and Licensed Customs Agents are ready to adhere and comply with the operational procedures and fiscal policy of the federal government. ”
