Onne Customs Area 11 Command Engages Stakeholders on Procedures and Trade Facilitation Challenges
…Charges them on strict compliance with Cargo Documentation
By Bon Peters
In furtherance of its commitment to trade facilitation and enhanced revenue generation at Onne Port, the Customs Area Controller, Port Harcourt Area II Command, Comptroller Aliyu Mohammed Alkali, has on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, engaged stakeholders on procedures and trade facilitation challenges, even as he charged them on strict compliance with cargo documentation.
This was contained in a press release issued, signed, and made available by the Acting Public Relations Officer of the command, Assistant Superintendent of Customs 1Paul Gimba, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state Capital.
Addressing the stakeholders at the Command’s conference room in Onne, Comptroller Alkali praised them for their cooperation in the year 2025, insisting that the robust synergy that existed contributed immensely to the Command’s success in revenue generation, disclosing that the Command recorded a 15.4 percent increase in revenue collection in 2025 compared to the previous year, 2024.
The Area Controller urged stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with cargo clearance documentation, stressing that proper documentation remained critical to seamless operations.
His words: “The Time Release Study (TRS), launched on 26th January 2026 during the celebration of International Customs Day, revealed that improper documentation remains a major factor hindering timely clearance and the fast release of consignments.”
Comptroller Alkali cautioned stakeholders against the improper utilization of Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAAR) issued for Port Harcourt Area II Command, saying that such should not be used in other Area Commands.
He also emphasized the need for shipping lines to clearly specify the intention of consignments during manifest transmission, warning against tampering with container tracking devices, and highlighted the importance of timely renewal of Customs bond licenses to prevent operational delays.
The climax of the engagement was the interactive question-and-answer session, where stakeholders raised concerns bordering on delays in job transfers and operations, disparities in land charges between western and eastern ports, manifest upload timelines, and the duration before containers are declared abandoned.
The statement noted that stakeholders were encouraged to submit written complaints on unresolved issues for proper documentation and follow-up.
Comptroller Alkali assured participants of his commitment to addressing the challenges encountered by stakeholders in the clearance of consignments at Onne Port.
Present at the event was Acting Deputy Comptroller of Revenue, AC HE Obaluyi, who also addressed concerns raised by stakeholders.
Others include the Deputy Comptroller Administration, DC BJ Odedeji, Deputy Comptroller Enforcement, DC A Hahaha, and the Team Manager of the Customs Intelligence Unit, AC SD Omar, Customs-licensed agents, terminal operators, freight forwarders, and shipping line representatives operating within the Area, among others
