By Innocent Orok
“The first half of 2025 has been very eventful and engaging, featuring our drive for revenue collection, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling. Our enhanced stakeholder engagement, deployment of ICT, port user compliance and uncompromising disposition of our officers and men culminated into better achievements for us, in line with the CGC’s policy thrust”, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu fsi PhD.
The Apapa Customs Command has achieved a total collection of N1,378,059,019,245.20 in the first six months of 2025. This represents 35% increase above N1,023,663,842,255.63 that was collected within the same period of 2024, making N354 billion increase in collection within the period under review.
Announcing the Command’s achievements in the 2025 half year report to the media, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu fsi PhD said “It is important we attribute this collection to our diligent officers and compliant traders.
“On my watch and under the direction of the CGC,Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, psc (+), we have always insisted on maximum collection of government revenue by preventing leakages and applying Demand Notices (DN) where and when necessary.
“Our revenue collection trajectory points to the possibility of achieving or surpassing our annual target by the end of 2025.I have urged my officers and men to brace up and redouble their efforts to make surpassing target a reality”, Olomu said.
On trade facilitation, he said ” “as you may be aware, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) also known as B’Odogwu has gone live in the Apapa Command with laudable milestones.
“In addition to the issuance of the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) being issued using the homegrown technology, we have achieved issuance of the first Single Goods Declaration On the 9th of May 2025 using the B’Odogwu platform. For us, this marks a significant shift towards faster, more reliable cargo handling.
“We have created a robust platform that facilitates trade and ensures the swift clearance of cargo. We are addressing challenges such as poor network connectivity, delays, and congestion associated with the former system.
“Very recently, under the guidance of the CGC, we opened talks with officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and other stakeholders from various associations on developing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the movement of goods by rail from Apapa Port to other states.
” I am pleased to express that the talks have shown prospects for success with pledges of support and anticipation for robust participation by all concerned.
This effort to revive cargo movement by rail aims to decongest the port, reduce pressure on the Apapa roads and provide a viable and cost-effective option of cargo movement to our importers, exporters, freight forwarding practitioners, haulage operators and licensed customs agents.”
In the area of anti-smuggling activities, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu has this to say “Today, we are showcasing nine containers comprising of unregistered pharmaceuticals,used clothing,expired margarine, wild animals’ skin, and codeine syrup seized by the command just a couple of days ago, which form part of the twenty-seven containers seized between January-June 2025 with a Duty Paid Value of (DPV) N9,267,443,966.”
The seizures are inclusive of 10 containers of unregistered pharmaceuticals, two containers of codeine syrup, two containers of stolen vehicles, four containers of second-hand clothing, amongst others.
“These seizures are a fallout of our efforts at preventing Nigerians from unwholesome foods and drugs, stopping illicit trade and protecting our local industries.
“As a standard, we will never compromise the health, well-being,safety of Nigerians on the altar of trade facilitation. Every consignment passing through our port undergo diligent check through scanning and physical examination when required.
“Unregistered pharmaceuticals is most prominent on the list of twenty-eight (28) seizures made by the command during the period under review. The seizures comprise of controlled drugs, used clothes,codeine syrup, wild animals’ skin and other sundry items.
“It is pertinent to note that trafficking of wild animals contravenes the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), of which Nigeria is a signatory. Equally, on the detention list is a container of matches imported without the required End User Certificate (EUC) as provided for in our extant laws.
“As a fallout from our uncompromising anti-smuggling operations, we have sealed 3 bonded terminals under the command for various infractions. One of the terminals has been charged to court for prosecution while an investigation is still ongoing on the remaining two terminals.
“Let me use this medium to once again warn perpetrators of illegal acts that Apapa Port Command is manned by eagle-eyed officers, who are activated to detect and seize uncustom goods with a clear mandate to arrest perpetrators. We have demonstrated our capacity in this regard and we shall continue to do more.”, he said.
While on inter- agencies collaboration, the Apapa Customs Command boss has this to say “Let me use the opportunity of this briefing to acknowledge and commend other sister government agencies for their support. We have always enjoyed their robust intelligence sharing and joint consultations towards national security. Our togetherness has always stood as great blows to criminals and their activities. We shall continue strengthening the bond”.
