Customs Generates ₦12.3bn In 6 Months At Ibeto Seaport

The Ibeto Seaport and Terminals Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated a total of ₦12.38 billion in revenue within its first six months of full operations, marking a strong start for the newly established Command in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

This was disclosed in a statement signed on January 27, 2026, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Tangwa Emmanuel, on behalf of the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Usman Yahaya.

According to the release, the Command’s revenue was generated between July and December 2025, totalling ₦12,382,397,531.62.

“This performance represents a bold and promising start for the Ibeto Seaport and Terminals Command. It reflects deliberate reforms, institutional discipline and our clear operational focus in line with national economic objectives,” Comptroller Yahaya stated.

The Customs chief attributed the milestone to the leadership and policy direction of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, as well as the deployment of the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), also known as B’Odogwu—a home-grown digital platform enhancing transparency, efficiency and accountability in cargo clearance and revenue collection.

“With the effective deployment of the B’Odogwu system, we have enhanced transparency and efficiency in our operations. As we move into 2026, our priority remains deepening trade facilitation while ensuring strict compliance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and other extant regulations,” he added.

Yahaya commended officers and compliant port users for their dedication, assuring that the Command will continue to promote a conducive and ethical work environment. He also urged importers, exporters, freight forwarders, and licensed customs agents to operate in strict accordance with the NCS Act 2023.

The CAC reaffirmed that the Command’s activities are guided by the CGC’s “tripod policy thrust of collaboration, consolidation and innovation,” emphasizing that these principles would drive stakeholder engagement and sustainable revenue growth.

He further expressed appreciation to the Chairman of Ibeto Group of Companies, High Chief Cletus Ibeto (CON), for his support during the Command’s formative stage, while calling for deeper cooperation among port stakeholders.

Beyond revenue generation, Yahaya underscored the Command’s resolve to combat smuggling and block revenue leakages, highlighting ongoing partnerships with sister security and regulatory agencies such as the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, and NAFDAC to enhance intelligence sharing and joint operations.

Reflecting on the Command’s journey, the CAC described 2025 as a foundation-laying period, adding that 2026 will focus on consolidating gains, improving operational processes, and deepening trade facilitation in line with global best practices.

“The revenue recorded was the result of teamwork, persistence, and sustained encouragement from the Comptroller-General. As we enter 2026, our resolve is to surpass this performance through continued cooperation and renewed commitment,” Yahaya said in his New Year message.