By Victor Edozie, Port Harcourt

The Area 2 Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, Onne, Rivers State, has announced the generation of ₦634 billion in revenue for 2024, surpassing its target of ₦618 billion.

The Controller of the Command, Mohammed Babandede, revealed this during a press briefing in Onne on Tuesday, where he also displayed seized items worth ₦150.87 billion. The seized goods, totaling 76 containers, included arms, ammunition, illicit medicines, vegetable oil, donkey meat, footwear, and used clothing.

Babandede highlighted the Command’s success in achieving its revenue target, attributing it to effective stakeholder engagement, synergy, and intelligence sharing. “Earlier in the year, the Command was given a revenue target of ₦618 billion. I am glad to inform you that, as of this morning, the Command has surpassed the target by generating ₦634 billion, representing 103% of the annual target,” he said.

He noted that the 2024 revenue marked an increase of ₦321 billion compared to the ₦313 billion generated in 2023, reflecting a remarkable 98% growth.

Regarding the seized items, Babandede disclosed that 12 of the intercepted containers were filled with illicit medicines, which he said were part of the Command’s commitment to safeguarding public health and ensuring compliance with Nigeria's import regulations.

The breakdown of the seized drugs includes:

• 1,721,100 bottles of 100ml cough syrup containing codeine
• 510,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac
• 7,100,000 tablets of 225mg Royal Apple Tramadol and Tramaking
• 3,461 pieces of sanitary ware fittings used for concealment

“This recent seizure is a testament to our unwavering commitment to safeguarding public health, ensuring the security of the nation, and maintaining compliance with Nigeria’s import regulations,” Babandede stated.

He called for continued collaboration with stakeholders to sustain the Command’s successes in revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations.