Business
N77.3bn Customs Revenue Underscores Eastern Ports Economic Importance -ANLCA
The Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Onne Seaport Chapter, has described the record-breaking N77.3 billion revenue generated by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Onne Command in April 2026 as a strong indication of growing economic activities across Nigeria’s eastern maritime corridor.
Chairman of ANLCA, Onne Chapter, Mr. Ifeanyi Isikaku, said this during a courtesy visit by executives of the Coalition of Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (COMJAN) to the association in Onne, recently.
Isikaku said the impressive revenue performance reflected increased vessel traffic, improved port operations and rising commercial activities at the Onne Port complex, which continues to attract major shipping lines and cargo volumes.
He noted that terminals within the port, particularly the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), have witnessed steady patronage from large container vessels carrying hundreds of containers on weekly schedules.
According to him, some vessels arriving at the terminal berth with between 500 and 800 containers, adding that the port had at certain periods accommodated as many as four large vessels simultaneously.
The ANLCA chairman said the development demonstrates the enormous potentials of eastern ports in contributing significantly to national revenue generation and economic growth if provided with the necessary infrastructure and policy support.
He maintained that the increasing volume of maritime businesses in the region justifies renewed calls for greater Federal Government investment in roads, logistics facilities and port infrastructure to enhance operational efficiency.
Isikaku also urged maritime journalists to sustain objective and proactive report of activities within the sector, stressing that accurate information dissemination remains vital to the growth of the nation’s maritime industry.
He encouraged media practitioners to pay closer attention to developments at ports in Onne, Rivers, Warri and Calabar, noting such coverage would help to draw attention to the opportunities and challenges facing the eastern maritime axis.
The Nigeria Customs Service, Onne Area Command, had recently announced a record revenue collection of N77.3 billion for April 2026, describing it as the highest monthly revenue generated in the history of the command.
Customs Area Comptroller of the command, Aliyu Mohammed Alkali, disclosed that the command generated a cumulative revenue of N258.2 billion within the review period, underscoring the growing capacity of the port to support national economic objectives.
President of COMJAN, Mr. Ralph John, assured stakeholders of the association’s commitment to promoting responsible maritime journalism and fostering collaboration with industry players, while urging stakeholders to regard journalists as partners in development rather than adversaries.
King Onunwor