Port Harcourt Customs Record N247bn Revenue In 10 Months

The Nigeria Customs Service, Port Harcourt Area I Command, has achieved a historic revenue milestone, surpassing its 2025 annual target two months ahead of schedule, with total collections hitting N247.46 billion between January and October 2025.

Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, who disclosed this during a media briefing, stated that the performance highlights the impact of innovation, discipline, and stakeholder collaboration on Customs operations in the region.

According to her, the command generated N33.75 billion in October 2025 alone, compared to N9.08 billion recorded in the same month in 2024 — representing a 272 per cent increase and the highest monthly revenue in the command’s history.

She noted that the cumulative revenue of N247.46 billion collected in the first ten months of the year surpassed the N216 billion annual target by over N31 billion, representing a 51 per cent increase compared with the N164.08 billion collected within the same period last year.

“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 stated.

The comptroller attributed the improved performance to the successful deployment of the Unified Customs Management System (Bodogwu) — a digital analytics and monitoring platform designed to enhance revenue tracking, optimise operational efficiency, and ensure real-time accountability.

She explained that the system has been instrumental in identifying process bottlenecks, improving data accuracy, and driving transparency across all revenue operations.

“Through B’Odogwu, we have been able to track and analyse revenue performance in real time, eliminate inefficiencies, and improve accountability. This innovation has greatly supported our drive toward operational transparency and efficiency,” she added.

Atuluku also emphasised the role of stakeholder collaboration in the Command’s success, noting that partnerships with sister government agencies, shipping companies, terminal operators, and compliant traders have strengthened transparency and voluntary compliance.

“Our engagement with stakeholders continues to yield positive results. We are building a port system based on mutual respect, accountability, and shared responsibility,” she said.

While commending officers and men of the command for their integrity and hard work, Atuluku highlighted that the command’s achievements reflected more than just statistics but represented tangible contributions to national development through the funding of infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security.

She affirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining its current momentum by deepening intelligence-driven operations, expanding automation, and enhancing trade facilitation in line with the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

“We are reinforcing our anti-smuggling and enforcement 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.

The comptroller extended her appreciation to the comptroller-general and the customs management team for their continuous guidance and policy support, describing their leadership as instrumental to the ongoing transformation within the Service.

Atuluku also commended the media for their consistent partnership in promoting public understanding of Customs’ role in revenue generation and compliance enforcement.

She concluded by reaffirming the command’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and service excellence, promising to sustain open channels of communication with stakeholders and the public.

“The Port Harcourt Area I Command remains open to feedback, dialogue, and collaboration. Together, we can sustain this momentum and build a more efficient and people-centered Customs administration that serves both the economy and the public interest,” she said.