Amanze Chinonye
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area 1 Command in Port Harcourt has recorded ₦187 billion in revenue between January and August 2025, according to outgoing Controller, Comptroller YM Hashim, who formally handed over leadership of the command to Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku on Thursday.
Hashim, who has been redeployed to head the Import and Export Unit at Customs headquarters in Abuja, described his two-year tenure as one driven by “teamwork, sacrifice and stakeholder collaboration.” Under his watch, the command grew its revenue base by 32 per cent compared to the same period in 2024, placing it among the top-performing customs formations in the country.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“When I assumed duty in October 2023, monthly revenue collection stood at ₦11.8 billion. Today, the command has expanded that base significantly, hitting a record ₦31 billion in June 2025,” Hashim noted, attributing the growth to collective effort by officers, trade partners and the Customs management team.
The new Area Controller, Comptroller Atuluku, described her appointment as “a defining point” in her career and pledged to consolidate on her predecessor’s achievements. She promised to strengthen transparency, accountability and trade facilitation, while keeping the doors of dialogue open with freight forwarders, importers, and exporters. “Leadership is not about one person but about collective effort. I count on your cooperation to keep this command standing tall,” she said.
For stakeholders, the change of guard comes at a time when Nigeria is pushing to boost non-oil revenue and strengthen port operations. Customs commands like Port Harcourt Area 1 play a critical role in ensuring government meets its revenue targets, while balancing trade facilitation with compliance. The ₦187 billion haul in eight months highlights both the command’s importance to national finances and the scale of responsibility awaiting the new leadership.
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Stakeholders present at the ceremony, including the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), praised Hashim’s performance and pledged full cooperation to Atuluku. They stressed that continuity in stakeholder engagement and efficient clearance processes will be vital for sustaining revenue growth.
The ceremony, which drew officers, trade partners, and members of the press, also featured an award of excellence presented to Hashim by National Youth Service Corps members attached to the command. His redeployment to Abuja ensures continuity of service at a strategic level, while Atuluku takes on the challenge of steering one of Nigeria’s busiest customs commands at a time of heightened expectations for revenue generation.
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