The Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has refuted allegations made by a 70-year-old US returnee, Olukayode David-Albert, regarding a demand of N76 million to clear his two vehicles and personal belongings.
This is just as the Onne Area 2 Command of the service, Rivers state, said it exceeded its revenue target for 2024 by generating N643 billion during the year.
In a statement by the TCIP Command’s Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Okwara, the NCS described the claims as “unsubstantiated” and urged the returnee to comply with established customs procedures.
David-Albert had alleged in an online publication that officers at the Tin Can Island Port demanded N76 million as a bribe to facilitate the clearance of his consignment. The publication claimed the amount was requested to settle duty payments on his belongings, which included two vehicles.
Okwara, however, explained that the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) 2022–2026 permits Nigerian citizens returning from abroad to import personal belongings duty-free, provided they have lived outside Nigeria for at least nine months. However, this exemption explicitly excludes vehicles and goods intended for sale, barter, or exchange.
“The luxurious 2024 Hyundai SUV in Mr David-Albert’s consignment attracts an Import Duty rate of 20 per cent, a levy of 20 per cent, and a Value Added Tax (VAT) of 7.5 per cent. The Command determined the appropriate duty value for the two vehicles to be N34,969,374.00, significantly less than the N53.5 million alleged as a ‘compromise’ amount in the publication, Okwara said.
She made it known that at no point did any officer of the Command request N76 million as alleged, and challenged the complainant to come forward with evidence of such misconduct, including identifying the officer that asked him for such. For necessary actions to be taken
“It is disheartening that David-Albert has resorted to making unsubstantiated claims in the media rather than complying with established procedures,” Okwara remarked, reiterating the NCS’ commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while enforcing customs regulations.
The Command also reminded the public that similar duty requirements apply in advanced countries, including the United States, where David-Albert previously resided.
“Attempting to circumvent due process in such jurisdictions would not be entertained,” Okwara noted. The Tin Can Island Port Command urged the returnee to fulfill his duty payment obligations, emphasising that such unverified claims could undermine public trust in the Service. The Command will continue to enforce the law without fear or favour while supporting legitimate trade. False allegations will not be tolerated,” Okwara added.
Meanwhile, the Area Commander, Onne Area 2 Command of the service, Rivers state, Muhammed Babandede, said the command, which had a revenue target of N618 billion for 2024, generated N643 billion to exceed its target.
Babandede said that the revenue accounted for about 103 per cent of the 2024 annual target, and that the figure exceeded 2023 target by N321b.
He said that the command made tremendous achievements in the campaign against smuggling, saying, this earned her an award from the Comptroller-General
“During the year, the command confiscated a total of 76 containers with duty paid value of more than N150b. The seizure comprised of arms, ammunition, illicit medicines, vegetable oil, foot wares, donkey skin, used cloths among others,” he said.
The comptroller also said that the command recorded major achievements in agro commodities and solid minerals export. He said that minerals such as luminum ingot, granular urea, orange peel, sesame seeds and wheat brain amounted to more than N1billion export revenue.
“A recent seizure of 12 containers with duty paid value worth more than N20 million also formed part of the total revenue made in 2024. The seizures were a confirmation of the command’s commitment to trade facilitation, transparency and effective service delivery,” he said.
Babandede also said that the command recently confisicated no fewer than one million bottles of cough syrup and five hundred thousand bottles of extra diclofenac.
“Other items we confiscated are sanitary wares and fittings used for concealment of the illicit medicines,” he said. He commended the Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi for recognising the command as the best performing in anti-smuggling operations, and described it as a morale booster.