The Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne Port, generated the sum of N54.99 billion between January and March 2023.
A statement issued by the command on Tuesday indicated that the Q1 2023 revenue represents 16.3 per cent of its N336 billion revenue target for the year.
The command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Baba Imam, while briefing newsmen on Tuesday, said that the figure realised was in spite of not having vessels berth at Onne port “for some time due to the election atmosphere”.
Imam also said that the command seized contraband goods with duty paid value of N927.82 million within the period.
The seized goods, according to him, include 26 containers and one detained container based on infractions related to import guidelines.
He said 24 of the seized containers were laden with refined vegetable oil comprising a total of 24,860 gallons of 25 and 10 litres La-Jonic vegetable oil with duty paid value of N833.17 million. He said the containers were seized as a result of false declaration.
“Also seized were other two containers laden with 1,165 cartons of analgin injection and fireworks with other items based on contravention of revised import prohibition guideline,” he said.
Imam said the command also detained a 20-ft container of machete “on documentation grounds pending provision of end-user certificate”.
He said the seized cartons of analgin injection have been handed over to officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further action.
“It is worthy of note that importation of certain controlled items like fireworks and machete requires end-user certificate which is under the purview of the Office of the National Security Adviser. Such importations without the certificate are to be seized and forfeited to the Nigerian government.
“The Federal Government bans the Importation of refined vegetable oil in order to promote local production by our local industries, which in turn creates employment for Nigerians and to boost foreign exchange through export of such products. 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 added.