BREAKING: Ibeto Seaport Customs Command Rakes in ₦4.24 Billion Within Two Months of Operations

The Ibeto Seaport and Terminal Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), one of the newest commands in the country, has taken off with a bang — recording an impressive ₦4.24 billion in revenue barely two months after commencing full operations.

Comptroller Usenat Abubakar, the pioneer Customs Area Controller of the command, disclosed this during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters on Tuesday, September 17, 2025.

She revealed that the command began operations on July 3, 2025, with the capture of its first Single Goods Declaration (SGD). By the end of July, revenue stood at ₦1.37 billion, which grew by over 42 percent in August to ₦1.95 billion. Between September 1 and 12 alone, the command collected ₦859.8 million, including ₦57.8 million raised through Demand Notes, bringing the cumulative total to ₦4.24 billion.

“This remarkable growth in such a short time underscores the vast potential of the Ibeto Command and the unwavering commitment of all stakeholders,” Abubakar stated with pride.

She admitted that launching a new command came with daunting challenges — from establishing offices and ICT systems from scratch to managing jurisdictional overlaps with the Area I Command and addressing pressing infrastructure and welfare gaps. However, she credited the early successes to the policy direction of Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, whose leadership she described as anchored on collaboration, consolidation, and innovation.

Comptroller Abubakar also lauded Chief Cletus Ibeto, Chairman of Ibeto Group, for supporting the command with accommodation and welfare initiatives during its formative stage. She further praised freight forwarders, sister agencies, and other stakeholders for fostering compliance and enabling seamless trade facilitation.

In a glowing tribute to her officers, Abubakar commended their resilience and commitment in transforming “an empty space into a functional and promising Customs Command.” She reaffirmed that the Nigeria Customs Service remains firmly committed to its three-fold mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and compliance enforcement.

The resounding success of the Ibeto Seaport Command in just two months has sparked optimism in Nigeria’s maritime sector, with many industry watchers describing it as a “game-changer” in the nation’s quest for diversified revenue streams.