Babandede Grooves with Performance at Onne Customs

… Records an improved N250b Revenue Collection, Seizure of 6 Containers in 5 months

Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, CAC, Onne Area Command, NCS

Indeed, all seems going good for the Port Harcourt Area II (Onne) Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as developments of performance continued in an upward trend, even with the recent change of baton in the Command’s leadership.

Babandede Showcasing some of the Container Seizure

The newly redeployed Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, a no-nonsense officer of customs who assumed office about two months ago stepping into the large shoes of achievements left behind by the immediate past leadership and with a promise to consolidate on the command’s successes, is certainly proving his leadership worth with present spectacular feats currently being witnessed in the command.

In his recent maiden press briefing held at the command headquarters in Onne to showcase the Command’s successes recorded so far since the CAC assumed duty as the Area Controller of the Command in April this year, Babandede reeled out various remarkable revenue and anti-smuggling achievements during the period in review.

Explaining his journey to success so far, the CAC said upon his arrival to the Command, he first and foremost received briefings on activities of the Command from his predecessor, Officers and Stakeholders, after which he embarked on courtesy visits to Bonded Terminals, various sister Agencies and had series of meetings with stakeholders to seek for their cooperation in terms of collaboration, synergy and information sharing, in line with the Controller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi mfr dsm fnipr fniia psc (+) Policy thrust of consolidation and collaboration.

He however showcased the positive effect and results aftermath some of these measures as captured below under the various mandates undertaken by the command.

REVENUE

On Revenue, Comptroller Babandede firstly explained that the Command was accorded with a reviewed revenue target of N618 billion as revenue target for year 2024, from an initially figure of 494 billion before it was reviewed two weeks ago.

Comptroller Babandede addressing journalists at the briefing

The CAC however disclosed that as at the end of May 2024, the Command had generated a total revenue of Two hundred and Forty-Nine Billion, Seven hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Two hundred and Sixty-Eight thousand, Two hundred and Ninety-Eight naira, Twenty-Eight kobo (₦249,752,268,298.28) which translate to 50.4% of the initial target and 40.3% of the current annual target.

On a comparative note with same period last year 2923, the Command is said to have an increase in revenue generation of One hundred and Fifty-Three billion, Two hundred and Thirteen Million, Seven hundred Thousand, Four hundred and Fifty naira, fifteen Kobo (₦153,213,700,450.15), a prove of an upward remark.

Nevertheless, this revenue feat was according to the Area Controller attained despite challenges of NLC strike, Democracy day and Sallah holiday, while noting that as at the morning of the June 21st briefing the Command has generated Forty-Three billion, Four hundred and Thirty Million, Two hundred and Sixty Seven Thousand, Two hundred and Ten naira ₦43,430,267,210.00 in the month of June 2024.

“We look forward to continuous rise in revenue generation in the coming months and we are optimistic that we would surpass the annual target by the end of the year”, the CAC said.

Anti-Smuggling

The command also recorded some significant improvement in her anti-smuggling campaign against unwholesome activities of smugglers and economic saboteurs, as he showcased displayed six (6) seized Containers for violations or contraventions of various customs laws and breach of procedures as provided under the revised import prohibition guidelines of the Common External Tariff 2022-2026, as well as Sections 233, 234, 235, 245, 246 of Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

He also added that, the command have on display a seized Container of used electronics which has turned to e-waste. “As you are aware of the environmental effect such waste pose to human lives, for the purpose of disposal we shall be working with the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in the spirit of inter-agency cooperation, synergy and in line with section 119 & 245 of the NCS Act 2023 to have it disposed”,  Babandede said.

The Onne Medicament Seizure

The Area Controller however put the breakdown of the seizures to include: Four (4) x 20 feet containers laden with bales of clothing, lace and fabrics i.e (96 jumbo size in total) with Duty Paid Value (DPV)  of ₦911,520,011.00; as well as the seizures of 2×40 feet containers laden with 2,625 cartons of cough syrup codeine, 80 cartons of Sildenatil Citrate tablets and 40 cartons of deluxe chilly cutter with ₦2,250,654,000.00 DPV. The CAC explained that the seizure was based on concealment, false declaration, contravention of revised import prohibition guideline and section 55 Sub-section (1) paragraphs (C) and (I) of NCS Act 2023), as he noted that the content of the importations contravenes the provision of the law which prohibits and restricts certain goods for the protection of the public health and safety.

The total seizure recorded in the period under review were all together put at Seven (7) seized containers in numbers and the total Duty Paid Values stood at ₦3,188,454,452.

Babandede further stated that that the above seizures were made purely from intelligence gathered and information sharing with sister agency alongside 100% physical examination.

This this, he used this opportunity to thank the NDLEA for their collaboration and inter-agency cooperation, noting that seizures of such magnitude could not have been possible without their involvement.

He nevertheless said investigation is still ongoing through the command’s Legal/Intelligent Unit to arrest the culprits and bring them to book as soon as possible.

Also, the said the seized containers which are currently kept in the Government Warehouse would be filed for condemnation at the federal High Court, Port Harcourt and shall subsequently be forfeited to the Federal Government.

As a mark of assurance, Comptroller Babandede promised that the Command shall continue to address its core responsibilities by employing various risk management strategies aimed at collecting revenue, identifying vulnerable leakages, gathering intelligence and facilitating trade.

“We cannot but underscore the necessity and imperativeness of leveraging on synergy, collaboration and intelligence sharing with sister agencies and stakeholders as it enhances our revenue drive and anti-smuggling feats.

“These deliberate and concerted efforts will guide us in contributing our quota towards realizing remarkable results in line with Vision and Mission of the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi mfr and His Management Team”, he said.

Clearing the air on the news on making the rounds in some media quarters on the command’s connivance with  bonded terminals to move containers to them, in which the CAC said a large number of journalist stakeholders are been misinformed about the procedures with the view that Containers moved to the bonded terminals are at the discretion of the Command.

He said that the view is erroneous, hence the need to set the record straight as well as educate our friends the press, stakeholders and the public on Bonded Terminal procedures.

To this, he explained that one of the core functions of Customs is trade facilitation which entails a streamlined and simplified technical and legal procedure in clearing items entering or leaving Nigeria.

“These Procedures are guides in which all Customs Officers must adhere to. The final destination for clearing of any consignment into the Country is at the owner’s or importer’s discretion. This cannot be altered by any customs officer including the Area Controller.

“Firstly the importer has to stipulate the Bonded Terminal or port that will be the final destination right at the country of exportation which is always indicated on the Bill of Laden and is transmitted via the shipping companies to the sea port which the vessel will berth. This negates the erroneous believe that Onne officers connive with operators of Bonded Terminals to transfer containers to Bonded Terminals

“Secondly, part of the procedure stipulates that these items moving to Bonded Terminals should be on Transire/Bond which is mandatory.

“The third procedure is escort from Onne Port to the bonded terminal. These procedures are strictly adhered by the Onne Customs Command. Any infraction discovered in the course of physical examination will translate to Demand Notice in order to recover the shortfall in revenue paid or detention in our Government warehouse which will be converted to Seizure. It may interest our stakeholders to note that the seizures of codeine where on transire to a Bonded Terminals but due to intelligence gathered they were step-down for physical examination at the mother Port”, he stated.

Furthermore, he said there is no hiding place for economic saboteurs in the Command. In his words, “We would not only fish them out, but shall get them arrested with their goods forfeited to the Federal Government.

Babandede however advised members of the press who wants clarification to visit or contact the Public Relations Unit of the Command for any enquire on activities and operations of the Command.

Babandede Grooves with Performance at Onne Customs

… Records an improved N250b Revenue Collection, Seizure of 6 Containers in 5 months

Indeed, all seems going good for the Port Harcourt Area II (Onne) Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as developments of performance continued in an upward trend, even with the recent change of baton in the Command’s leadership.

The newly redeployed Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, a no nonsense officer of customs who assumed office about two months ago stepping into the large shoes of achievements left behind by the immediate past leadership and with a promise to consolidate on the command’s successes, is certainly proving his leadership worth with present spectacular feats currently being witnessed in the command.

In his recent maiden press briefing held at the command headquarters in Onne to showcase the Command’s successes recorded so far since the CAC assumed duty as the Area Controller of the Command in April this year, Babandede reeled out various remarkable revenue and anti-smuggling achievements during the period in review.

Explaining his journey to success so far, the CAC said upon his arrival to the Command, he first and foremost received briefings on activities of the Command from his predecessor, Officers and Stakeholders, after which he embarked on courtesy visits to Bonded Terminals, various sister Agencies and had series of meetings with stakeholders to seek for their cooperation in terms of collaboration, synergy and information sharing, in line with the Controller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi mfr dsm fnipr fniia psc (+) Policy thrust of consolidation and collaboration.

He however showcased the positive effect and results aftermath some of these measures as captured below under the various mandates undertaken by the command.

REVENUE

On Revenue, Comptroller Babandede firstly explained that the Command was accorded with a reviewed revenue target of N618 billion as revenue target for year 2024, from an initially figure of 494 billion before it was reviewed two weeks ago.

The CAC however disclosed that as at the end of May 2024, the Command had generated a total revenue of Two hundred and Forty-Nine Billion, Seven hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Two hundred and Sixty-Eight thousand, Two hundred and Ninety-Eight naira, Twenty-Eight kobo (₦249,752,268,298.28) which translate to 50.4% of the initial target and 40.3% of the current annual target.

On a comparative note with same period last year 2923, the Command is said to have an increase in revenue generation of One hundred and Fifty-Three billion, Two hundred and Thirteen Million, Seven hundred Thousand, Four hundred and Fifty naira, fifteen Kobo (₦153,213,700,450.15), a prove of an upward remark.

Nevertheless, this revenue feat was according to the Area Controller attained despite challenges of NLC strike, Democracy day and Sallah holiday, while noting that as at the morning of the June 21st briefing the Command has generated Forty-Three billion, Four hundred and Thirty Million, Two hundred and Sixty Seven Thousand, Two hundred and Ten naira ₦43,430,267,210.00 in the month of June 2024.

“We look forward to continuous rise in revenue generation in the coming months and we are optimistic that we would surpass the annual target by the end of the year”, the CAC said.

Anti-Smuggling

The command also recorded some significant improvement in her anti-smuggling campaign against unwholesome activities of smugglers and economic saboteurs, as he showcased displayed six (6) seized Containers for violations or contraventions of various customs laws and breach of procedures as provided under the revised import prohibition guidelines of the Common External Tariff 2022-2026, as well as Sections 233, 234, 235, 245, 246 of Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

He also added that, the command have on display a seized Container of used electronics which has turned to e-waste. “As you are aware of the environmental effect such waste pose to human lives, for the purpose of disposal we shall be working with the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in the spirit of inter-agency cooperation, synergy and in line with section 119 & 245 of the NCS Act 2023 to have it disposed”,  Babandede said.

The Area Controller however put the breakdown of the seizures to include: Four (4) x 20 feet containers laden with bales of clothing, lace and fabrics i.e (96 jumbo size in total) with Duty Paid Value (DPV)  of ₦911,520,011.00; as well as the seizures of 2×40 feet containers laden with 2,625 cartons of cough syrup codeine, 80 cartons of Sildenatil Citrate tablets and 40 cartons of deluxe chilly cutter with ₦2,250,654,000.00 DPV. The CAC explained that the seizure was based on concealment, false declaration, contravention of revised import prohibition guideline and section 55 Sub-section (1) paragraphs (C) and (I) of NCS Act 2023), as he noted that the content of the importations contravenes the provision of the law which prohibits and restricts certain goods for the protection of the public health and safety.

The total seizure recorded in the period under review were all together put at Seven (7) seized containers in numbers and the total Duty Paid Values stood at ₦3,188,454,452.

Babandede further stated that that the above seizures were made purely from intelligence gathered and information sharing with sister agency alongside 100% physical examination.

This this, he used this opportunity to thank the NDLEA for their collaboration and inter-agency cooperation, noting that seizures of such magnitude could not have been possible without their involvement.

He nevertheless said investigation is still ongoing through the command’s Legal/Intelligent Unit to arrest the culprits and bring them to book as soon as possible.

Also, the said the seized containers which are currently kept in the Government Warehouse would be filed for condemnation at the federal High Court, Port Harcourt and shall subsequently be forfeited to the Federal Government.

As a mark of assurance, Comptroller Babandede promised that the Command shall continue to address its core responsibilities by employing various risk management strategies aimed at collecting revenue, identifying vulnerable leakages, gathering intelligence and facilitating trade.

“We cannot but underscore the necessity and imperativeness of leveraging on synergy, collaboration and intelligence sharing with sister agencies and stakeholders as it enhances our revenue drive and anti-smuggling feats.

“These deliberate and concerted efforts will guide us in contributing our quota towards realizing remarkable results in line with Vision and Mission of the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi mfr and His Management Team”, he said.

Clearing the air on the news on making the rounds in some media quarters on the command’s connivance with  bonded terminals to move containers to them, in which the CAC said a large number of journalist stakeholders are been misinformed about the procedures with the view that Containers moved to the bonded terminals are at the discretion of the Command.

He said that the view is erroneous, hence the need to set the record straight as well as educate our friends the press, stakeholders and the public on Bonded Terminal procedures.

To this, he explained that one of the core functions of Customs is trade facilitation which entails a streamlined and simplified technical and legal procedure in clearing items entering or leaving Nigeria.

“These Procedures are guides in which all Customs Officers must adhere to. The final destination for clearing of any consignment into the Country is at the owner’s or importer’s discretion. This cannot be altered by any customs officer including the Area Controller.

“Firstly the importer has to stipulate the Bonded Terminal or port that will be the final destination right at the country of exportation which is always indicated on the Bill of Laden and is transmitted via the shipping companies to the sea port which the vessel will berth. This negates the erroneous believe that Onne officers connive with operators of Bonded Terminals to transfer containers to Bonded Terminals

“Secondly, part of the procedure stipulates that these items moving to Bonded Terminals should be on Transire/Bond which is mandatory.

“The third procedure is escort from Onne Port to the bonded terminal. These procedures are strictly adhered by the Onne Customs Command. Any infraction discovered in the course of physical examination will translate to Demand Notice in order to recover the shortfall in revenue paid or detention in our Government warehouse which will be converted to Seizure. It may interest our stakeholders to note that the seizures of codeine where on transire to a Bonded Terminals but due to intelligence gathered they were step-down for physical examination at the mother Port”, he stated.

Furthermore, he said there is no hiding place for economic saboteurs in the Command. In his words, “We would not only fish them out, but shall get them arrested with their goods forfeited to the Federal Government.

Babandede however advised members of the press who wants clarification to visit or contact the Public Relations Unit of the Command for any enquire on activities and operations of the Command.