By Peter Omopo
The Port Harcourt II Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Onne, has announced a total revenue collection of ₦258.2bn between January and April 2026, alongside a series of anti-smuggling operations across Nigeria’s Eastern maritime corridor.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Aliyu Alkali, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Onne on Thursday, noting that the Command recorded its highest monthly revenue collection in April 2026 at over ₦77.3bn.
According to him, the performance marks the strongest monthly collection since the establishment of the Command, driven by improved compliance monitoring and tighter enforcement of revenue regulations.
Alkali said the Command remained committed to balancing revenue generation with trade facilitation while ensuring strict adherence to import guidelines.
He explained that the record revenue reflected efforts to block leakages, enhance compliance, and align operations with government fiscal policies.
Beyond revenue generation, the Comptroller revealed that the Command achieved significant success in anti-smuggling operations during the period under review.
In February 2026, officers intercepted a 40-foot container falsely declared as plumbing materials, with investigations revealing tampering of the container identity number in an attempt to evade duty payment. The shipment had a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦185.2m.
In another operation, nine additional 40-foot containers were seized for alleged infractions including document falsification and misdeclaration of goods. The containers contained fabrics, garments, LED lights, solar equipment, building materials and carpentry tools, with a combined DPV exceeding ₦1.25bn.
The enforcement drive continued in April with the interception of six 20-foot containers loaded with 1,100 jerricans of Super Delicieux vegetable oil valued at ₦494m. Officials said the import violated provisions restricting refined vegetable oil importation under the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, aimed at supporting local production.
Also seized was a 40-foot container concealing about 600 cartons of unregistered pharmaceutical products among household items, with an estimated DPV of ₦139.3m.
Altogether, the Command recorded 17 container seizures within the period, with a total Duty Paid Value exceeding ₦2.06bn.
Comptroller Alkali warned that enforcement operations would be sustained, stressing that violators would face the full weight of the law, while urging compliant traders to continue lawful business activities.
He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for ongoing reforms and leadership support aimed at improving operational efficiency across Customs formations nationwide.
