Edo, Delta Customs Generate N10bn In 3 Months

The Edo and Delta States command of the Nigeria customs service said it generated a total revenue of N10, 994,852,411.50 into the Federation and Non- Federation accounts.
Briefing newsmen on the command’s first quarter activities, the customs area Controller, comptroller B.O Olomu said out of the figure, excise duty collection accounted for N1, 493,415,809.5.
According to him,” the above figure is N727, 036, 089.75 over the collection of the corresponding period for 2022, translating to an increase of 6.8percent.
The customs boss noted that the command recovered a total of N78, 990,809.00 through the issuance of Demand Notices (DN).
Explaining further, Olomu said: “For the first quarter 2023, inspite of the obvious challenges recorded in the trade supply chain occasioned by lull in port activities, Edo/Delta Area command was able to generate a total revenue of N10, 994,852,411.50 and remitted same to the Federation and Non- Federation accounts of the Federal Government.
“Additionally, excise duty also forms a steady and reliable part of our monthly/annual revenue collections. The main area of Excise duty collection in the Command is Guiness Brewery, Coca-Cola and 7up Bottling Company which all together accounted for a total of N1, 493,415,809.5”.
Giving the comparative analysis, he said “When compared to the corresponding period last year, the command had an increase of N727, 036, 089.75.
“his indicates an increased collection of 6.8%. We are determined to do more and possible surpass our revenue target for the year 2023, by God’s grace.
“Also for the first quarter of the year, the command was able to raise 13 demand notice (DN) as compared to 8 demand notice for the corresponding period of 2022. The demand notice of 2023 is worth N78, 990,809.00”.
Explaining some technical background to the operations of the command, he said, “As you all know, the statutory responsibility of Revenue generation and accounting for same, trade facilitation, suppression of smuggling and implementation of Government policies has being the primary preoccupation of the Edo/Delta Command with her headquarters at Warri, NPA complex.
The command co-ordinates and monitors ports activities, jetties and outstations as well as oversee the activities of some excise factories in Edo State.
“On assumption of duty, I immediately summoned a stakeholders meeting because they are the heartbeat of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“I also went further to scrutinize the operations of the Export Seat, Forcados Terminal and Escravos Export Terminal on the activities relating to the lifting and exportation of crude oil.
“This led to a stakeholders meeting of the International Oil Companies (IOC’s), Pre-Shipment Inspection Agencies (PIA’s) and the Local Oil Companies (LOC’s) operating within the Command”.
He also disclosed that the command realized $24,576,039,926.96 from processed oil export, with an additional $392,280.79 from non oil export cargo.
“Statistics from the export seat shows that the Free On Board (FOB) value for oil export for the first quarter of 2023 stood at $24,576,039,926.96, while the non-oil export value stood at $392,280.79”.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos