By Godwin Oritse

The Management of the Onne Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service generated over N34.996billion for the first half of the year January – June 2011, surpassing last year’s collection by over N10billion. The Command also recorded 43 cases of seizure, 76 detention and 5 arrests during the period.

Statistics made available to Vanguard showed that about N17.125 billion was collected in the first quarter (January l-March) while another N17.871 billion was collected for the second quarter (April-June) as against N11.2billion and N13billion in the first two quarters of last year, respectively.

A breakdown of the figure also showed that over N21 billion was paid into the Federation account as against N13.7 billion into during the correspondent period last year.

A further break down of the figure showed that while N3.2 billion was collected in January 2010, N6.1billion was collected in the same month of 2011. For February 2010 and 2011, N3.2billion and N4.8billion were collected respectively.

In March and April, 2010, N4.4 billion, N4.2billion were recorded while N6.077billion and N5.2 billion were collected in March and April 2011, respectively. For May 2010 and 2011, N3.048 billion and N5.3billion were collected, respectively.

For the months of June 2010 and 2011 the command recorded the highest amount of revenue collection, raking in N5.8billion and N7.3billion respectively.

On the seizures, while 25 cases were recorded in the first half of 2010, 43 cases were recorded for first half of 2011 and the Duty Payable Value stood at N232.5million and N860.9million, for the period in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Meanwhile, the revenue figures reported by the Command are recorded against the backdrop of stiff opposition put up by licensed agents, who recently protested the administrative style of the Command’s Comptroller, Mr. Dan Ugo which they described as too strict for them (agents) to remain in business.

It would be recalled that agents operating within the Onne Port recently demanded that the gate manned by officers of the Central Intelligent Unit be dismantled.

In his reaction to the agents’ opposition to management efforts to ensure that all revenue due to government are collected, Ugo warned that only honest importers and agents will be entertained in Onne port.

The agents under the aegis of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) also demanded that the Customs Area Comptroller Task Force be dismantled and that only one exit gate be created.