The new Customs Area Controller, Nigeria’s Premier Port, Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Oluwadare Oshoba has pledged to build on the successes of his predecessor, Babatunde Olomu, an Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG), to advance trade facilitation, increase revenue collection and fight smuggling in the Command.
Comptroller Oshoba who made this pledge in Lagos during the handing over exercise, gave kudos to ACG Olumu for monumental achievements during his tenure as the Customs Area Controller of the Command.
CAC Oshoba said: “It is with deep humility and a strong sense of duty that I stand before you today to assume the mantle of leadership as the Customs Area Controller of Nigeria’s premier port and the heartbeat of Nigeria maritime trade.
First and foremost, I want to extend my profound gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the Management of the Nigeria Customs Service for entrusting me with this strategic responsibility. I assure you of my utmost commitment to justify the confidence reposed in me.
“I also wish to pay glowing tribute to my predecessor, whose tenure here has been nothing short of historic. Under his leadership, the Apapa Command became a benchmark for excellence in revenue generation, enforcement, and trade facilitation. Kudos to Assistant Comptroller-General (Dr) Babatunde Olomu for this, sir.
“As I take over today, gentlemen, officers and stakeholders, your ideas, your passion, and your expertise are the foundation on which my service here shall be built. I am committed to fostering an environment where every voice is heard and valued, and my leadership will be guided by three key pillars:
“Improving revenue excellence – We will build on the foundation laid by my predecessor to ensure consistent growth in collections through transparency, accountability, a collective approach and efficiency.
“Deepening enforcement and security – Intelligence will remain at the heart of our operations. We will close gaps, detect concealments, and intercept prohibited goods before they harm our economy and people.”
On the area of enhancing stakeholder relations, the new CAC said that the port community is Customs and the Command’s partner in progress, saying that they would continue to strengthen trust with importers, exporters, clearing agents, shipping companies, and sister agencies, knowing that trade facilitation and compliance are two sides of the same coin.
“Please indulge me today. I have demands to make from everyone in this room, including Officers and stakeholders who couldn’t make it here physically due to the exigencies of work, space and time constraints. I want to request that we renew our dedication and our shared vision for excellence. I solicit for maximum support from every one of you.
The Service is currently at a crucial phase in its ICT and modernization drive, marking a very significant turning point in its drive to evolve. The world is changing rapidly, and with change comes with opportunities. Together, we will build on the gains of our indigenous platform (B’Odogwu) and cause our workplace to evolve into an ecosystem of rapid innovation and excellence. I ask for your continued support to push the Unified Customs Management System to greater heights.
“The Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), Time Release Study (TRS), Advanced Ruling (AR) and other trade facilitation programmes, which put NCS ahead of its peers’ Customs Administration in Africa, will be the cornerstone of my leadership approach.”
CAC Oshoba noted that as Nigeria has produced the Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, “we are a country of interest in the global Customs community, so let us portray a leading example by upholding the principles of compliance and ensuring unwavering adherence to all legal frameworks governing import, export and excise operations.
“I believe in the power of collaboration. No one succeeds alone, and I am here to work alongside you—not just as a leader, but as a partner in our shared mission. We will face challenges, but we will tackle them together, with resilience and determination. We will also celebrate our successes together, because every milestone we achieve will be a testament to our collective hard work and commitment.
“Together, let us consolidate the gains, embrace innovation as we collectively write the next chapter of legacy for Apapa Command and the Nigeria Customs Service at large,”
Comptroller Oluwadare Oshoba enthused.
Speaking earlier, the outgoing Customs boss in-charge of Apapa Command, ACG Olomu, Ph.D said: “Today I address you with mixed feelings reminiscing on the beautiful moments we shared together during my time here as Area Controller of Apapa Port, but I am constantly reminded that the service period was meant to bring challenges, proffer solutions to keep Nigeria better and at some point, come to an end. I am glad to inform you that l am now elevated to the rank of Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, ACG and my tenure as the CAC has come to an end.
“Sincerely, I thank the CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR dsm psc (+) for trusting me with the task of piloting customs affairs in our flagship command and I want to gladly inform you all that this phase of service for me as CAC Apapa has ended. “
Olomu pointed out that providence requested that he moved further to serve elsewhere, adding that when he assumed duty on May 6, 2024, it was with sleeves rolled up, two hands on deck, “enjoying the maximum support of my officers and men in addition to full cooperation of our esteemed stakeholders comprising of government agencies and private sector operators including the media.
He noted that together as a team, they all confronted odds to excel and they accomplished in the areas of revenue collection, anti-smuggling, trade facilitation and robust stakeholders’ engagement.
This team spirit, he added was imbibed in taking a cue from the CGC’s policy direction of working closely with all our stakeholders at various levels.
“We have laid a solid structure for consolidation. Under the guidance of the CGC, I ensured this command can operate optimally on an autopilot mode in revenue and anti-smuggling, stakeholders’ engagement, ICT deployment and all other indices for measurement of customs efficiency.
On revenue collection, the former boss of Apapa Command of NCS said that under his watch, the command achieved its first N2 trillion revenue collection which is an unprecedented feat by the command in the history of the service.
Also, in recognition of this, the command and “my humble self-earned numerous awards including the CGC Special Award for Excellence in Revenue Collection, Trade Facilitation, and Overall Best Area Controller.”
He noted that they didn’t just arrive there, but were focused laying the bricks for improvement in their collection hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly to arrive at the outstanding accomplishments.
“We achieved a record-breaking single-day revenue collection of over N17.9 billion on June 19, 2024. Again, the command set another benchmark with N18.2 billion in daily revenue in October 2024.
Furthermore, another daily revenue collection record of N18.9 billion was made on March 14, 2025.
Consequently, for the month of August, 2025, the Command collected N214.9 billion using the newly introduced B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System, despite initial technical challenges.
As at today, we have collected a total of one trillion, eight hundred and thirty-four billion, seven hundred and eighty-nine million, four hundred and ninety-nine thousand, eight hundred and fifty naira, forty kobo (N1,834,789,499,850.40), for the year 2025.
“I am optimistic that my successor will build on these achievements to surpass our 2025 revenue target of N3 trillion since we have attained 60% of our annual collection.”
On trade facilitation and modernization, ACG Olomu explained that under his watch, this command had been effectively positioned as a central hub for implementing trade facilitation reforms championed by the Comptroller-General of Customs.
He said these reforms which aimed to modernize the Nigeria Customs Service and enhance Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), recorded remarkable milestones.
He revealed that while he was here as CAC, Nigeria made its historic first African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) shipment from Apapa Port in July 2024, “launching our country’s participation in the scheme’s Guided Trade Initiative (GTI).
He further disclosed that Nigerian manufactured goods were sent to five other African countries, another milestone shipment under AfCFTA from Nigeria which they facilitated was sent to Kenya in November 2024, showcasing the country’s active role and commitment to boosting intra-African trade through the agreement.
Furthermore, he noted that while here(Apapa Command), together, they entrenched a tradition of faster cargo clearance, seamless trade dispute resolution and promotion of compliance for all importers, exporters, freight forwarders, licensed customs agents, terminal operators, bonded terminal owners and everyone interfacing with the NCS through this command.
Speaking on enforcement/anti-smuggling, he said that despite ensuring maximum collection of all revenue due to the federal government from customs duties, they never slept on their anti-smuggling responsibility.
“Our fight against smuggling was never a rhetoric. We proved to the smugglers and their collaborators that Apapa Port is a no-go area for illegalities.
“Therefore, the command is poised to always deal with the activities of unscrupulous elements that may want to test our resolve to address the menace of bringing in unregistered and controlled medicaments.
In the 15 months I served here, we made 75 seizures of various items broken, down to 62 units of 40ft containers and 13 units of 20ft containers. The seizures comprise of fake, expired and substandard medicaments, controlled drugs as codeine syrup, tramadol, Indian hemp, and other items like used clothing, wood etc.”
On stakeholders’ engagement, ACG Olomu said that he ran an open-door policy, ensured easy interaction with all the stakeholders.
“We have always interacted to address any impediment associated with trade in Apapa port. In addition to that, my telephone line was also readily available for information sharing and feedback with all stakeholders.
“I want to specially thank God Almighty for bringing me thus far the CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, dsm psc(+), all my officers/men esteemed stakeholders, distinguished members of the fourth estate of the realm for their unwavering support towards our collective success during this period of 15 months I was here as CAC.
Finally, our sister agencies like the DSS, Police, Immigration, NDLEA, Port Health, NAFDAC, SON, Quarantine, NPA and others have been very supportive. You all are highly appreciated.
As Oliver Twist who always ask for more, I am asking that you do more than that for my successor who is also a distinguished gentleman officer with capability to take this command to greater heights.”
