BY EGUONO ODJEGBA
The Nigeria Customs Service, Area II Command, Onne Port, Rivers State has recorded a milestone with the revenue collection of twenty two billion, one hundred and eighty four million, eight hundred and ninety nine thousand, five hundred and eight naira, ₦22,184,899,508.00, in a single day, on March 7, 2024.
The feat according to a statement by the Command Public Relations Officer’, CSC Lomba Benjamin also coincides with unprecedented monthly revenue collection of fifty billion, eight hundred and sixty three million, fifty three thousand, nine hundred and forty five naira, fifty four kobo, ₦50,863,053,945.54, for the month of February 2024.
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According to Lomba, above figure is against the forty billion, two hundred and ninety million, seven hundred and fifty five thousand, five hundred and sixty naira, ninety six kobo (₦40,290,755,560.96) ever generated in previous months and years.
The statement adds that while a total of one hundred and twenty four billion, six hundred and fifty two million, seven hundred and twenty eight thousand, one hundred and eighty seven naira, fifty kobo, ₦124,652,728,187.50, was generated in 49 working days in 2024, that is January, February and the first 5 working days of March; it is over and above the total figure of one hundred and eighteen billion, one hundred and seventy million, seventy two thousand, four hundred and fifteen naira fifty six kobo, ₦118,170,072,415.56, collected between January and June, 2023.
Speaking on the development, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Baba Imam remarked that the revenue generated this year has broken four records in the Command.
“In February alone, firstly, it is the highest revenue generated in the history of Area 2 Command so far and the highest revenue generated in a single month. Secondly the figure of February surpasses the monthly revenue target given to the Command.
“Thirdly, the daily collection made on the 7th of March is the highest revenue generated in a single day. Lastly the total revenue of forty nine, 49, working days in 2024 together, is above six month revenue collected between January to June 2023.
“The Command surpassed its daily target of one billion, eight hundred and ninety five million, eight hundred and sixty two thousand, seven hundred and nine naira, forty six kobo (₦1,895,862,709.46) by over 1000% which is the first in the history of daily collections in the Command.”
He further explained that the revenue milestone of February 2024 represents 23.3% increase above the Command’s monthly revenue target of Forty one billion, two hundred and thirty five million, thirteen thousand, nine hundred and thirty naira, eighty four kobo, ₦41,235,013,930.84, compared to the same period in February 2023 where the command generated seventeen billion, nine hundred and eighty million, one hundred and twenty seven thousand, three hundred and seventeen naira, six kobo, ₦17,980,127,317.06; which stands at 183% increase.
The figure according to the command represents the highest revenue to be collected in the history of Area 2 Command as it surpasses the forty billion, two hundred and ninety million, seven hundred and fifty five thousand, five hundred and sixty naira, ninety six kobo, ₦40,290,755,560.96, collected in January 2024 and thirty eight billion, thirty nine million, seven hundred and sixty four thousand, three hundred and twenty seven naira, forty nine kobo, ₦38,039,764,327.49, collected in October 2023.
Comptroller Imam attributed the feat to constant stakeholders engagement, zero tolerance for revenue leakages, synergy and intelligence sharing, noting “We have consistently made it clear that the Command welcomes only compliant traders who are willing to operate in accordance with the laid down extant laws and guidelines of importation and exportation.
“The Command is optimistic and deploying various strategies to ensure that this trend continues in order to also surpass not only the monthly target, but equally surpass the target for the year 2024 of four hundred and ninety four billion, eight hundred and twenty million, one hundred and sixty seven thousand, one hundred and seventy naira, seven kobo, ₦494,820,167,170.07”.
In addition the Customs Area Controller mentioned that the Command before now has been having weekly sporting activities and in February this year it came to the notice of the Management of Customs and in particular the Comptroller General of Customs.
Hence in addition to the performance in the area of revenue generation/collection the Command received a Commendation letter to attest to our sporting activities and aligning to the CGC’s work-life balance initiative.
The Onne Customs boss advised sister commands yet to come on broad to follow suit for the fitness and betterment of every individual working in their area commands so that officers can be fit, physically and mentally balance to discharge their assigned responsibilities effectively.