Port Harcourt Area I Command of the Nigeria customs Service was able to record a total revenue of N22.24 billion in 2009 as against N16.93 billion collected in 2008 which indicated an increase of about N5.3 billion or 31.29 per cent.

The Customs Area Comptoller, Austin Warikoru, who stated this last Friday while brief journalists in the Command, noted that the N2.84 billion made in December 2009 was the highest monthly revenue collection ever recorded in the history of the Command.

Comptroller Warikoru also noted that the last five months (August-December 2009) was the best in the history of revenue collection in Port Harcourt Area 1, explaining that the command had an increase of 82.25 per cent over and above collections in the corresponding period in 2008.

While N6.29 billion was realised in 2008, the Command collected N11.466 billion, a difference of about N5.175 billion.

The Area Comptroller further explained that the second half year record was fantastic between July and December 2009, stressing that the command collected N13,297 billion while during a corresponding period in 2008, N8.008 billion was collected as revenue with a clear difference of N5.3 billion or 66 per cent.

He also said the fourth quarter result was 106% better than that of 2008, adding that the Command, during the period, collected N7.034 billion while N3.413 billion was collected in 2008.

According to him, the Command made appreciable progress in revenue collection attributing it to the dedication, diligence and hard work of officers and men of the command.

The comptroller however, commended the officers and men of the Command, assuring the Comptroller-General of Customs, his management team and the Federal Government that the Command will not rest on its oars and promised to do better this year to beat 2009 record.

Meanwhile, the break down of the revenue collection of last year indicated that in January the Command collected a revenue of N1.32 billion and N780 million in February.

The command also netted N1.82 billion, N915 million and N1.54 billion in March, April and May, respectively.

In June, the Command was able to record N2.57 billion while in July, August and September, it recorded N1.83 billion, N2.63 billion and N1.80 billion, respectively.

Also in October 2009, the revenue generated by the Command was N2.30 billion, November , N1.89 billion and December, N2.84 billion with a total annual return of  N22.24 billion.