Edo, Delta Customs revenue rises 29% to N132.86bn

The Nigeria Customs Service, Edo/Delta Area Command, generated approximately ₦132.86bn in revenue between January and October 2026, representing an increase of ₦29.52bn, or 28.57 per cent, over the ₦103.34bn collected during the corresponding period in 2025.

Disclosing this at a media briefing held in Warri on Friday, the Customs Area Controller for the Command, Comptroller Dominic Ortsen, attributed the growth in revenue generation to “improved revenue administration, commercial activities, stakeholder compliance and the commitment of officers and men of the Command”.

Giving a breakdown of the performance, Ortsen said the command recorded significant increases in March, May and October 2026, with growth rates of approximately 188 per cent, 109 per cent and 97 per cent, respectively, compared with the corresponding months in 2025.

“October recorded the highest monthly collection within the 10-month period, with approximately ₦22.78bn generated against ₦11.54bn in October 2025, representing an increase of ₦11.24bn,” he stated.

The Customs Area Controller identified transactions involving Chevron Nigeria Limited, Fenog Nigeria Limited, Gradient Emulsions and Polymers Limited, Crown Flour Mills Limited, Life Flour Mills Limited, Julius Berger Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Breweries Limited, Nigeria Bottling Company Limited and Seven-Up Bottling Company Limited as some of the major contributors to the October revenue performance.

He noted that the companies’ activities across the oil and gas, steel, construction, agricultural commodities and manufacturing sectors contributed to the Command’s revenue profile.

The Customs Area Controller identified Value Added Tax (VAT), Import Duty, FCS and Excise Duty as the principal sources of revenue during the period, while other contributions came from the Wheat Grain Levy, Electronic Levy and Transfer System (ELTS), seven per cent Port Levy and other applicable statutory fees and levies.

He explained that the command’s revenue-generating activities covered cargo clearance through terminals and bonded facilities, importation of industrial inputs, machinery, general merchandise, bulk cargo and other commercial transactions.

He added that the oil and gas industry, alongside industrial and logistics activities in Edo and Delta states, remained important areas for customs revenue generation and compliance monitoring.

Ortsen said the command would sustain efforts to ensure that all legitimate revenue due to the Federal Government was properly assessed and collected, while strengthening intelligence-led enforcement, cargo accountability and compliance monitoring to prevent revenue leakages.

He, however, noted that revenue performance was influenced by factors such as the volume and value of imports, nature of cargo processed, prevailing economic conditions, compliance levels and the efficiency of operational processes.

On operational reforms, the Customs Area Controller disclosed that “the Command has introduced a Coordinated Cargo Examination and Trade Facilitation Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to improve cargo examination, referrals, compliance monitoring and the resolution of operational challenges”.

“The procedure is designed to eliminate duplication, reduce avoidable bottlenecks, strengthen coordination among operational units and ensure consistency in the application of customs procedures,” he said.

He further stated that the command was already strengthening internal supervision, professional discipline and accountability, with officers expected to discharge their duties with integrity, diligence and professionalism.

He maintained that the command was aligning its operational processes with the Comptroller-General of Customs’ One-Stop-Shop initiative to promote coordinated engagement, improve communication and ensure timely resolution of trade-related issues.

He said the command had continued to engage terminal operators, importers, licensed customs agents, shipping and logistics operators, manufacturers and other stakeholders to identify operational challenges, improve communication and promote compliance.

On security, Ortsen said the command would strengthen collaboration with sister government agencies and security institutions to tackle smuggling, illicit trade, revenue leakages and other activities capable of undermining legitimate commerce and national security.