As part of their constitutional mandate of oversight function, the House of Representatives Committee on Customs, paid a working visit to the Customs Zone C’ Headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State.
The auspicious event which took place 
at the Customs Area 1, Command, Port Harcourt, was attended by area controllers of the zone and critical stakeholders.
In his welcome address, the Zonal coordinator Customs Zone C‘ Headquarters (ACG) SK Dangaladima welcomed the committee, thanking them for finding time to visit his zone while soliciting for their cooperation to achieve the aims and objective of the visit.
ACG Dangaladima praised the officers and men of his commands for their commitment to duty, compliance on fiscal policies in revenue generation, trade facilitation and suppression of smuggling in the Zone.
Presenting their first quarter activities, Comptroller Mustapha Hashim, who presented the activities of Area1, declared that the Command generated 56.1billion naira in the first quarter of 2025 with a statistical difference of 12.5 billion naira collected same period in 2024 which stood at 28.6%.
Hashim, who noted that the command revenue target is 216 billion naira for 2025, said they have also generated over 18 billion naira from 1st of January to 22nd of April 2025 which has already exceeded 17.4 billion naira collected in April 2024.
He posited that the Command would do everything possible within the ambit of the law to raise revenue collection in the year 2025.
On Anti- Smuggling activities, the Area 1, Customs Boss, stated that the command has relentlessly fought against smuggling activities in the ports which led to several arrests and handing over of intercepted animals and plants to the appropriate government agencies in line with the convention on international trade in Endangered Species of Wild fauna and flora (CITES).
In his presentation, the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Federal Operations Unit, Zone C, Owerri, Comptroller Bishir Balogun said the command has made a great success in trade facilitation, revenue generation, and implementation of government fiscal policy, combating smuggling activities and illicit items across its area of jurisdiction.
He said the Command with a team of gallant officers and men of the FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri, working on intelligence intercepted 2425 pieces of used tyres, adding that intelligence driven operations of the officers and men also led to the arrest and seizure of 647 bales of second clothing.
BALOGUN, also said the roving patrol team of the unit on a credible stop and search operation was able to arrest and detain 2762 Rolls of 60 Yard Each satin mirror dull face, a Truck load of smuggled 3,400 cartons of foreign spaghetti made in Turkey, 25 blocks of Cannabis Sativa, 233 sacks of 2kg and 50kg Foreign Parboiled Rice and 14 bags of 50kg rice, without the need to fire any single shot or use physical violence.
He noted that from the date of his assumption of office as CAC FOU Zone C precisely 20th March 2025 to 20 April 2025, the unit has recorded over 30 various interceptions/ detentions and over 10 categories of seizures of uncustoms and illicit substances within the zone and with a total Duty Paid Value ( DPV) of One billion, ten million, one hundred and thirteen thousand, eight hundred and eighty naira only, adding that the unit also raised additional Demand Notices (DN) totaling Thirteen Million, four hundred and fifty one thousand, eight hundred and forty eight naira only within the period under review.
The Area Controllers who also made presentations are Comptroller Chukwudi Ogbonna, Akwaibom/Calabar Command, Comptroller Chika Dim, Eastern Maritime Command, Comptroller Comfort Ukpanah, Enugu Command, Comptroller Peterson Akpan, Imo /Abia Command, DC, Ege Chukwu Sunday who represented Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Port Harcourt among others.
In their separate presentations, they made impressive records of increase in revenue generation, suppression of smuggling activities and effective security.
Reacting to the presentations by various commands, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Leke Abejide asserted that the committee satisfied with thier findings, adding that they will go back and look into to work out modalities that will ensure more revenue is generated, trade facilitated and smuggling suppressed.
In his contribution, the immediate past chairman, ANLCA Onne Seaport Chapter, Mike Ebeatu said they are supporting Customs on that, noting that they have done well and deserved to be compensated.
Commenting on the state of Eastern ports infrastructure, he averred, the absence of road and rail network which is negatively affecting the freight forwarding business.
Chief Ebeatu therefore, urged the Federal Government to develop the railway infrastructure, bring more scanners at the ports for effective revenue generation and trade facilitation.
Speaking to press, the chairman ANLCA Area1, Dr. Emma Okoh, said he was delighted on the committee’s visit and urged them to improve on infrastructure and make the area to bolster in shipping activities.
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