By: Felix Ikpotor
The Nigeria Customs Area 1, Port Harcourt says it exceeded its 2025 revenue target of N216.9 Billion by taking in total of N288.8bn representing an excess of N71.8bn.
Area 1 Controller, Salamatu Atuluku stated this at a media briefing on the operational performance of the Command for the 2025 fiscal year.
She said the command recorded notable milestones in the year 2025 in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities of revenue generation, trade facilitation, suppression of smuggling, capacity development, infrastructural enhancement, corporate social responsibility, and stakeholder engagement. These achievements she said, reflects effective command leadership, strategic policy implementation, and sustained collaboration with stakeholders and sister agencies.
The Customs Area 1 boss said the sum collected in 2025, exceeds the N200.8 Billion collected in the year 2024, translating to a revenue growth of N87.9 Billion and representing 43.8 percent year-on-year increase.
Atuluku said the achievement underscores the effectiveness of improved compliance monitoring, enhanced cargo examination processes, automation-driven controls, and sustained stakeholder sensitization within the Command’s area of responsibility.
“In the area of revenue generation, the Command recorded an outstanding performance in 2025, generating a total sum of N288.8 Billion. This represents a substantial increase when compared to the N200.8 Billion collected in the year 2024, translating to a revenue growth of N87.9 Billion, representing 43.8 percent year-on-year.
” The Command’s revenue target for the year 2025 was N216.9 Billion. The actual collection exceeded this target by a surplus of N71.8 Billion, representing a 33.1 percent performance above target, ” Atuluku said.
The controller added that monthly revenue performance remained consistently strong throughout the year, with the highest collection recorded in October 2025, amounting to N33.7 Billion.
She noted that the sustained revenue growth recorded in 2025 further affirms the Command’s commitment to supporting national economic objectives through efficient Customs administration.
In the area of export promotion, she said the Command in the year under review processed a total export volume of One Million One Hundred and Eleven Thousand and Seven metric tons, comprising both oil and non-oil commodities. She added that the Free on Board (FOB) value of exports handled by the Command stood at $463.6 Million, contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
In addition, Atuluku said a total sum of N838.02 Million was paid as Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) charges for both oil and non-oil exports during the year, noting that the figures reflect increased exporter participation, improved documentation compliance, and the Command’s deliberate efforts to streamline export procedures while ensuring adherence to extant regulations.
She disclosed that the Command also thwarted smuggling of some unapproved products into the country and the seized products handed over the National Agency For Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
On other achievements of the command in the year under review, Atuluku said officers and men of the command benefitted from periodic training programs, sensitization sessions, operational briefings, and system-focused engagements, particularly in areas of Customs automation, risk management, enforcement procedures, and trade facilitation amongst others.
She said the command embarked on distribution of exercise books and other educational materials at the Community Primary School 1&2, Oromenike D/Line Port Harcourt as part of its corporate social responsibility.
The customs controller said the achievements recorded by the Port Harcourt Area I Command in 2025 were further strengthened by sustained engagement with stakeholders across the port environment, noting that the Command held structured engagements on key initiatives, including the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS – B’Odogwu), the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, the One-Stop Shop initiative among others, all aimed at improving transparency, compliance, predictability, and ease of doing business.
She appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his visionary leadership, strategic reforms, and consistent policy direction, maintaining that the Command remains resolute in consolidating the gains, strengthening partnerships, and effectively delivering on the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service in support of national economic growth, security, and public interest.
