Port‑Harcourt customs generated N247 bn in 10 months, surpasses N216bn target

The Nigeria Customs Service, Port Harcourt Area I Command, has recorded its highest-ever monthly revenue collection, raking in N33.75bn in October 2025, a 272 per cent increase from N9.07bn posted in the same period last year.

The feat was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Salamat Aliyu Atuluku, who described the performance as a reflection of “teamwork, innovation, and operational discipline.”

According to her, the command’s cumulative revenue between January and October 2025 now stands at N247.46bn, up from N164.08bn generated within the same period in 2024, a 51 per cent year-on-year growth.

Atuluku disclosed that the command has already exceeded its annual revenue target of N216bn by N31bn, with two months still left in the year, underscoring what she called “the result of strategic leadership and collective commitment.”

The statement read, “It gives me great pleasure to share the remarkable achievements recorded by the Nigeria Customs Service, Port Harcourt Area I Command, in the course of our statutory responsibilities, particularly in the areas of revenue collection, trade facilitation, and enforcement of government fiscal policies.

“For the month of October 2025, the Port Harcourt Area I Command collected a significant total revenue of N33.753bn, as against N9.079bn collected in the corresponding month of October 2024. Equally impressive is the Command’s cumulative revenue for the period of January to October 2025, which stands at N247.461bn, compared to N164.080bn collected within the same period in 2024. This translates to a commendable growth of about 51 per cent, demonstrating the Command’s steady and consistent revenue performance.

“With a 2025 annual revenue target of 216 billion Naira and a monthly average target of N18.07bn, I am pleased to inform you that as at October 2025, the Command has already surpassed its annual target by over N31bn, with two powerful ëmber” months to go.

This achievement is not accidental. It is the result of strategic leadership, renewed operational discipline, and the unwavering dedication of officers and men under my watch,” Atuluku said.

She attributed the improved performance partly to the deployment of B’odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System a digital analytics and monitoring platform that enables real-time revenue tracking, bottleneck identification, and transparency in operations.

“Through Bodogwu, we have been able to identify bottlenecks, improve data accuracy, and ensure real-time revenue accountability. This innovation has greatly supported our drive towards operational transparency and efficiency,” she added.

The comptroller also credited enhanced collaboration with sister agencies and port stakeholders, including terminal operators and shipping companies, for promoting voluntary compliance and reducing disputes during clearance processes.

Comptroller Atuluku commended her officers for demonstrating “exceptional integrity and commitment” despite the operational challenges associated with the volatile global trade environment.

“When we speak of revenue, we are not merely speaking of statistics. We are speaking of the resources that drive national development, the funds that power road construction, healthcare delivery, education, and security infrastructure,” she said.

The Port Harcourt Area I Command, which oversees one of Nigeria’s busiest seaports and oil-export terminals, has historically been a key contributor to non-oil revenue.

The command has also implemented tighter enforcement of fiscal policies, closed leakages, and modernised data systems to track duty payments and import declarations in real time.

While celebrating the record-breaking revenue collection, Atuluku maintained that the command remained vigilant against smuggling and other economic sabotage activities, noting that intelligence-driven operations would continue to guide enforcement actions.

“The command’s strong performance reflects the wider Customs Service reforms being implemented under the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who has prioritised automation, stakeholder engagement, and efficiency in trade facilitation since assuming office in 2023.

“We are reinforcing our anti-smuggling measures to protect the nation’s economy from harmful and prohibited imports, while ensuring that legitimate trade continues to thrive under a fair and transparent system,” she stated.

She expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General, the Customs Management Team, and other stakeholders for their support and alignment with the command’s objectives.

“Together, we can sustain this momentum and build a more efficient and people-centred Customs administration that serves both the economy and the public interest,” she said.

The Nigeria Customs Service, Port Harcourt Area I Command, is one of the country’s oldest and most strategic customs formations, responsible for import and export operations across key terminals in Rivers State. It plays a critical role in facilitating trade for the South-South region, which serves as Nigeria’s oil and gas hub.