The Nigeria Customs Service, Area II Command, Onne Port, Rivers State says it has recorded an unprecedented, historical milestone in revenue generation insisting that an overwhelming daily 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) only has been achieved in a single day as against over two billion naira daily ever collection in the past.

This disclosure was contained in a press release made available to our correspondent Friday by the Command’s Public relations officer, chief Superintendent of Customs, Lomba Benjamin.

The statement also said that an unprecedented monthly revenue 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)only was equally recorded in the month of February 2024 as against 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) only ever generated in previous months and years.

The statement went further to posit that 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) only was generated in forty- nine (49) working days in 2024, covering January, February and Five (5) working days of March which according to the statement has beaten 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) released from January to June (six months) in the year 2023.

Speaking on the achievements, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Baba Imam stated that the revenue generated this year has broken four records in the Command.

Saying, in February alone, firstly, it was the highest revenue generated in the history of Area 11 Command so far and the highest revenue generated in a single month. Secondly the figure of February surpassed the monthly revenue target given to the Command. Thirdly, the daily collection made on the 7^th of March was the highest revenue generated in a single day. Lastly the total revenue of forty nine (49) working days in 2024 together, was above six month revenue collected between January to June 2023.

He emphasized that 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 was the first In the history of daily collections in the Command.

He asserted "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). When 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), this figure represents an increase of 183%.”

“This figure represents the highest revenue to be collected in the history of Area 11 Command as it surpasses the revenue collected in January 2024 of 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) and, October 2023 of 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).”

Speaking further the Area Controller insisted that the feat was achieved through constant Stakeholder engagement, zero tolerance to revenue leakages, synergy, intelligence sharing, even as he noted the Command has consistently made it clear that the Command would always welcome only compliant traders who were willing to operate in accordance with the laid down extant laws and guidelines of importation and exportation.

He reiterated that the Command was optimistic and deploying various strategies to ensure that the revenue generation trend would continue in order to not only surpass 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).

The Area Controller, Comptroller Baba Imam used the opportunity to inform the Command of the commendation letter from the Comptroller General of Customs BA Adeniyi MFR on the Command ‘s weekly sporting activities.

His words; "It is worthy to mention 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 Area Controller, however advised Commands yet to come on broad to key in for the betterment of every individual working in those Area Commands so that officers can be fit, physically and mentally balanced to discharge their assigned responsibilities effectively.

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