The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a monumental achievement in the nation's non-oil revenue drive, with its Port Harcourt Area I Command recording an unprecedented revenue collection for the month of October 2025.
Record-Breaking Revenue Performance
Under the leadership of Comptroller Salamat Atuluku, the Command generated a staggering N33.753 billion in October alone. This figure is not just impressive; it represents the highest monthly revenue in the history of the Port Harcourt Area I Command.
When compared to the N9.079 billion collected in the same month of the previous year, this new record signifies a colossal 272 per cent increase in revenue generation. This performance is a significant milestone for the Federal Government's ongoing initiatives to bolster domestic revenue mobilisation and ensure fiscal sustainability for the nation.
Surging Year-to-Date Figures and Strategic Reforms
The impressive performance in October contributes to a strong cumulative revenue for the year. Data released by the service shows that total collection from January to October 2025 reached N247.461 billion. This marks a substantial 51 per cent growth from the N164.080 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.
Remarkably, this outstanding result means the Command has already surpassed its annual target of N216 billion by over N31 billion, with two months still remaining in the year.
Comptroller Atuluku credited this success to a combination of strategic factors, including:
- Ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service.
- A significant improvement in operational discipline among officers.
- The strategic deployment of digital technologies to enhance transparency and accountability.
She emphasized that the achievement was not accidental but the result of "strategic leadership, renewed discipline, and the unwavering dedication of our officers and men." She added that through teamwork and innovation, the Command has successfully blocked revenue leakages, promoted legitimate trade, and made a significant contribution to national development.
The Role of Technology and Collaboration
A key driver of this success has been the implementation of the Unified Customs Management System, popularly known as Bodogwu. This homegrown digital platform tracks and analyses revenue processes in real-time, strengthening revenue assurance, improving data integrity, and minimising manual errors.
Comptroller Atuluku also highlighted the crucial importance of collaboration with port operators, shipping companies, and other government agencies. She noted that enhanced stakeholder relations have directly improved trade facilitation, compliance, and overall operational efficiency.
She further contextualized the importance of the revenue, stating, "When we talk about revenue, we are not merely speaking of statistics. We are talking about the resources that power our roads, schools, hospitals, and security infrastructure. That is why we take our mandate very seriously."
Looking ahead, the Comptroller pledged that the Port Harcourt Area I Command would sustain this positive momentum. The strategy will focus on intelligence-driven enforcement, continuous staff capacity building, and an expanded deployment of automation tools to further curb smuggling and revenue leakages, solidifying the NCS's role in financing Nigeria's development.
