Customs Area 1, Port Harcourt generates N24.7billion in September

The Nigeria customs Service Port Harcourt Area 1, Command says her revenue generation has been on a steady rise as the command, continued to make an impressive revenue generation, hitting over N24.7billion in the month of September.

The total revenue for the third quarter of 2025 stood at N72billion, even as the Command intercepted Controlled drugs with Duty Paid Value (DPV) that runs into Millions of Naira at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State.

This was disclosed during the median Press briefing by the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Comptroller Atuluku said she hinged her briefing on two achievements, which she noted bordered on the command's remarkable revenue performance for September 2025 and the interception of some Controlled Drugs at the Port Harcourt International airport Omagwa.

 Her words: "This briefing is an important one for us as it highlights two key achievements of the Port Harcourt Area 1 Command; our remarkable revenue performance for September 2025 as well as the interception of some Controlled drugs made at the Port Harcourt International Airport." She noted.

Continuing, she added "I am particularly delighted because this marks my first full month as the Customs Area Controller of this Command, and it gives me great pride to announce the excellent revenue performance we recorded in September.”

Giving breakdown, Atuluku, said "In September 2025, the Port Harcourt Area 1 Command generated total revenue of ?24.7 billion, compared to ?12.5 billion recorded in the same period in 2024."

She noted that the figure represented a difference of ?12.2 billion and showed an impressive 97.6% increase over the previous year.

She insisted that the remarkable achievement was not just a number on paper; but a reflection of  hard work, commitment, and renewed zeal of the officers and men of the Command who keyed into the vision of efficiency, transparency, and innovation.

She reiterated that  looking at the broader picture, the third quarter of 2025 has also been very rewarding  as the Command recorded a total of ?72 billion in the third quarter of 2025, compared to ?48.3 billion it generated in the same period in 2024,  showing a revenue difference of ?23.7 billion which represented  a 49% increase.

The growth, according to her, clearly showed that the Command was on a steady upward trajectory in revenue collection and operational performance.

Gining, gratitude, she said  "I want to sincerely acknowledge the efforts of the immediate past Area Controller of this Command, Comptroller Y.M. Hashim, whose leadership and groundwork laid a solid foundation for this success" 

Insisting that his contributions set the pace for the strong third  quarter performance, which the Command has continued to build upon.

She also emphasized that the command's revenue drive was in full alignment with the mandate of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, whose innovative policies and reforms have created an enabling environment for Commands across the country to perform optimally.

She hinted that the management team of the Nigeria Customs Service has continued to provide guidance, tools, and motivation that inspired  officers to achieve more, emphasising on collaboration, consolidation, and innovation which remained the driving forces behind the recent success.

She however commended the officers and men of the Port Harcourt Area 1 Command for their unwavering dedication and teamwork, noting that their support and cooperation have been instrumental in realizing those achievements despite the challenges they face daily.

Comptroller Atuluku also expressed gratitude to  stakeholders and sister agencies for their cooperation insisting that Customs work was never done in isolation even as she noted that their joint efforts would continue to enhance compliance, revenue assurance, and national security.

On anti- smuggling of unwholesome products, she said that beyond revenue generation, the Command has remained focused on one of its core mandates, the protection of the nation from the entry of harmful and prohibited goods, stating that in that regard, she was pleased to inform the public of a significant interception made by the officers at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

She added that the operation once again underscored the command’s vigilance and commitment to the safety of the nation.

She disclosed that "on the 22nd of September, 2025, a shipment arrived from Amsterdam aboard Allied Airway Bill No. 574-34543283.” The consignment according to her was declared as spare parts but noted that as part of their standard operating procedures (SOP), the consignment was subjected to detailed examination by the officers and the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), working in close collaboration with other government agencies.

But stated that upon thorough examination, the team discovered that the shipment, which was purported to contain mechanical spare parts, had several pharmaceutical products concealed in it, even as those items were not declared, and were clearly intended to evade detection and bypass regulatory scrutiny.

The Customs Area 1, boss listed the items uncovered to include: "Tramadol Ratiopharm injections, Tramadol 50 Kapseln-1A-Pharm 50mg Hartkapseln, Generic Plus Paracetamol tablets, Doxepin tablets, and Phenyldam injections with Duty Paid Value that runs into millions of naira."

She emphasized that all those products were classified as controlled or prohibited under Nigerian law due to their potential for abuse and harmful effects when improperly used.

She therefore commended the officers for their alertness, integrity, and professionalism during the operation, adding that their attention to details prevented those harmful products from entering the country.

Speaking further, she stated that the success also reinforced the importance of strong inter-agency collaboration, even  as she extended her heartfelt appreciation to NAFDAC, NDLEA, the Customs Intelligence Unit, and the Customs Police for their active support and partnership throughout the process.

Concluding, the Customs Area 1 Port Harcourt, Controller, reaffirmed the Command’s  steadfastness in its commitment to national service through effective revenue collection, trade facilitation, and border protection while leveraging on  the continued  support of the Comptroller General of Customs, the officers, and the public, to  keep raising the bar of excellence and safeguarding the nation with pride .

 By: Bon Peters

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