Onne Port has stood out in revenue generation over the years. Now, the House of Representatives (HoR) seem to take notice. They have paid a visit to Onne Port and seem impressed with what they saw.
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A 17.12% increase, year-on-year, in revenue generation at the Area II Command, Onne Port, in Rivers State, has excited the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise on the possibility of higher revenue generation at the port.
The Area II Command, Onne of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), posted a total sum of N190.2Bn as revenue collected within the first three months of 2025.
An analysis presented on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, by Mohammed Babandede, the Area Controller, showed the sum represents a 17.12% increase from the corresponding period of the previous year, 2024, during which a total of N162.7bn was collected.
“This shows a remarkable improvement with a difference of N27.8bn; this represents a 17.12% increase against the first quarter of 2024,” he said.
Reviewing the command’s achievements during an oversight visit to Customs Zone C headquarters, Port Harcourt, on Thursday, May 1, 2025, the House of Representatives Committee on Customs lauded the achievements made by the Babandede-led command on revenue generation, anti-smuggling and trade facilitation, despite operational challenges.
Leke Abejide, the Reps Committee Chairman, said; “We singled out Onne because after Apapa and Tin Can, Onne Customs Command is the biggest, so we decided to take our time to scrutinize it so that we can actually know what is going on here.
“But so far, so good. Despite some challenges they are still struggling to meet up targets”, he said.
Abejide added that, “We are satisfied with what we saw because despite the challenges they are facing, such as lack of accommodation, operational vehicles and lack of adequate scanners, to do their work diligently, they are surpassing their yearly revenue target.
“Babandede has surpassed the first quarter revenue target and I know at the end of the year, the Command will definitely surpass the 2025 revenue target.
“On anti-smuggling, I am very satisfied with him because of the numbers of seizures he has made so far.”
The seizures included a large cache of arms and munitions and some unwholesome drugs, which Abejide said could have posed greater danger to society and the general public if not intercepted.
“Remember Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of Customs, was here personally to receive the seizures and handed them over to the appropriate quarters.
“We have taken note of the challenges at Onne, but we are yet to pass their 2025 budget. When we get back, most of these challenges would be incorporated in their budget. The one we will solve by budgeting we do, the one that would be solved through plenary we do also.”
He however promised that the welfare of men of the command would be of utmost priority.
SK Dangaladima, Zonal Coordinator, Customs Zone C, expressed satisfaction with Reps Committee’s visit, noting that the committee members have seen what is on ground and they will put every effort to solve the problems of our officers and men of this Command especially lack of accommodation, operational vehicles and the issue of more scanners.”
Babandede who earlier stated that Onne Area 11 Customs Command has intercepted 20 containers laden with Illicit drugs worth over N10 billion, and also raked in over N190 bn in the first quarter of 2025, promised that the Onne Customs command would surpass its 2025 revenue generation.
He added, “The committee members are here to see our challenges and what is on ground, like the absence of adequate scanners for our operations. We have only one scanner but need more to help us efficiently perform our duty.
“We are surpassing our target; our monthly target is N58 billion, but we are making between N60bn and N66 bn monthly.”
Banbande disclosed that eight of his officers and men whose intelligence led to the interception of those seized items have been given special promotions by the Comptroller General of Customs as a reward mechanism.
Present at the event were some stakeholders in the maritime industry, such as Terminal operators, ANLCA, NAGAFF, APFFLON and operators of Bonded Terminals in the zone among others.
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