By Tony Nzekwe
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Port Harcourt Area 1 Command has generated the sum of ₦18, 170,597,798 from January to March 2021.
This information was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Yusuf Garba, in a press statement issued signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, ASC I Oscar Ivara and made available to GLOBAL RAYS Media.
It reads in part: “The figure is against ₦16,180,827,894 and ₦13,237,465,044 recorded in the same period of 2020 and 2019 respectively. He said the revenue collected in the first quarter of 2021 represents an increase of about ₦ 2 Billion from that of 2020.”
The statement revealed that the Command collected the sum of ₦6,433,037,926.11 in January, ₦5,031,701,309.59 and ₦6,705,858,563.36 in the months of February and March respectively.
In his remarks, the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Compt Garba Yusuf, said, “The importatiin of Bulk cargoes into the Port was the major source of revenue collection and attributed the increase to the gradual return of port activities, adding, the disruption caused by the emergence of the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
The CAC highlighted some of the Bulk cargoes berthing in the port to include Bulk wheat, frozen fish, oil well supplies, Bulk Corn amongst others.
He added, “The Command also generated the sum of ₦1,158,083,726.00 from the payment of Excise duties through the International Breweries Limited. This figure surpasses the ₦ 891,134,979.00 collected from January to March, 2020.”
Compt Yusuf asserted that, ” International Passenger Flights is yet resume at the Port Harcourt International Airport, however, he explained that the Airport only receives the Allied Cargo Airline which mainly imports Oil Well Equipments that are mostly destined for the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and the Repair and Return of Company equipments which usually attracts the payment of import duty on the value added to the equipment at the point of return.”
Speaking Further, Comptroller Garba, reiterated, “The Command have being at the forefront in promoting Trade facilitation and anti-smuggling activities by creating an enabling environment for Ease of Doing Business and having regular engagement with stakeholders, especially the Customs Licensed Agents. This, he informed has proved positive as importers and their agents have being complying to trade guidelines.”
In his submission, the CAC, posited, “The Command kick started the 2021 Fiscal year on a sound footing .”
He appreciated the leadership of the ANLCA, NAGAFF, and all other relevant stakeholders and Government agencies for their high level of professionalism and corporation.
