Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Area 2 Command, Onne, has marked a year of exceptional achievements in its battle against smuggling, revenue generation, and export facilitation.
During an end-of-year press briefing, Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, highlighted the Command’s significant successes and pledged continued commitment to securing the nation’s borders and facilitating trade.
The Command intercepted 12 containers of smuggled goods, including illicit drugs with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦20.31 billion. The seized items included:
– 1,721,100 bottles of 100ml Cough Syrup Codeine,
– 510,000 tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac,
– 7,100,000 tablets of Royal Apple Tramadol and Tramaking, and
– Concealed sanitary ware, chilly cutters, and other contraband.
Comptroller Babandede reaffirmed the Command’s dedication to public health and safety, stating, “These seizures underscore our unwavering commitment to ensuring harmful goods do not enter our country.”
The Onne Command surpassed its 2024 revenue target of ₦618 billion by generating ₦634 billion, achieving 103% of the target. This figure represents a 98% increase over the 2023 revenue collection, demonstrating the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement, synergy, and intelligence sharing.
In recognition of its outstanding anti-smuggling operations, the Command was awarded the “Best Command in Anti-Smuggling Operations” by the Comptroller-General of Customs. Additionally, eight officers were specially promoted for their roles in intercepting 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition earlier this year.
A total of 109 officers received promotions, including 14 Deputy Comptrollers elevated to Comptrollers and 17 Chief Superintendents promoted to Assistant Comptrollers.
The Command made 76 container seizures in 2024, with a DPV of ₦150.87 billion. These included arms, ammunition, illicit medicine, and various uncustomed goods. On the export front, the Command processed 2.7 million metric tonnes of goods valued at $953 million(₦1.26 trillion), comprising agro and mineral resources such as sesame seeds, aluminum ingots, and granular urea.
Comptroller Babandede thanked stakeholders, partners, and the media for their support in 2024 and expressed optimism for 2025. “With continued collaboration, we aim for even greater results in the coming year,” he concluded.