The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) says it would continue to sustain efforts towards blocking revenue leakages while enhancing trade facilitation at Nigerian ports.
Comptroller Aliyu Alkali, incharge of Onne, Area11 Command in Rivers stated this in Port Harcourt at a seminar in commemoration of the 2026 World Maritime Day organised by Business and Maritime Writers Association of Nigeria(BUMWAN).
Tagged:’Nigerian Ports and Bonded Terminals: impacts of Nigeria Customs Services and stakeholders In The Blue Economy, the seminar examined ways of advancing the blue economy agenda of the federal government.
Represented by Asst. Comptroller Nasir Lirwan, Alkali said that the NCS has remained critical to the success and growth of the blue economy especially, considering its mandate in the non-oil revenue generation sector of the country’s economy.
According to him, the Onne command has also demesticated various strategies aimed at promoting effective risk management and stakeholders engagements.
The measure he said has also largely contributed to an effective ports operations.
Emphasising on the importance of bonded terminals on cargo operation, Alkali identified bonded terminals as backbones of the blue economy.
“Six years ago, there were only about six operational bonded terminals at the Onne command but presently due to the business friendly policies of the Comptroller General Bashir Adeniyi, over 20 operational bonded terminals have been created here in Onne.
“This indeed indicates that bonded terminals are no longer alternatives but indispensable partners in a seamless cargo clearance and blue economy agenda.
“Bonded terminals have become critical for ports decongestion, constant cargo delivery, employment generation and enhanced revenue collection,”he said.
Alkali, also commended BUWAN for timely and effective reportage of the ports and bonded terminals saying the effort had significantly strenghtened public awareness.
Also Speaking, Mr Caleb Ajagba, Chief-of-staff, Abia State Government House urged the Customs to go beyond revenue collection and step up actions towards strengthening its role in trade facilitation.
Represented by Mr Nwaka Inem, Special Adviser to Abia state Governor on Trade, Commerce and Industry, Ajagba lamented impacts of poor cargo operations on the end user.
“Delays from overstreched bareaucatic bottlenecks, multiple charges, congestion and uncertainties in cargo clearance has continued to increase cost of doing business which inturn affects the ordinary Nigerian consumer.
“Your objective should be geared towards creating an efficient and digitalized system which pomotes timeliness for legitimate trade and prompt termination of illegal and non complaint transactions,” he said.
Ajagba also pledged readiness of the Alex Otti led administration to strenghten partnerships with Nigeria Customs and other critical stakeholders with a view of promoting transboarder trade in the state.
“Abia State is open for collaboration and the Alex Otti led administration is consistently focused on improving infrastrure, ease of doing business, industrialisation and investment promotion,” he added
Similarly, Mr Matthias Odo, Commander, NDLEA, Onne port command, pledged the agency’s committment to a drug-free society and called for collaboration from stakeholders and well meaning Nigerians.
Represented by his Deputy Mr Kingsley Effiong, Odo emphasized that intellegence gathering was cruicial for efficient local and trans-boarder drug tracking operations.
“I want you to understand that no business can thrive in an environment that is not drug-free, that is why we must continue dismantling drug cartels,” he said.
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Ealier in his address, Mr Peter Ihejirika, BUMWAN President, thanked participants and stakeholders for further enlightening the public on innovations geared towards improving ports operations.
lhejirika promised to deepen media partnership with stakeholders and ports operators while also calling for their cooperation.
“Journalists are your friends, we are not spies, avail us information whenever we need them as failure to do so may give room for speculations,” he said.
Our Correspondents reports that operators of bonded terminals, NAFDAC and other stakeholders also attended the seminar.
