Apapa Customs Record Half Annual Revenue Target In April

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has hit the bull’s eye as the command collected slightly over half its revenue target for the year 2025 with about six more weeks to the end of the second half of the year.

Disclosing this to newsmen, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, fsi said the command as at May 12, 2025, has already collected ₦1trillion in revenue receipt, describing the development as a landmark achievement in the history of the Service.

Comptroller Olomu in a statement released by the Command Public Relations Officer, SC Tunde Ayagbalo, noted that the development is a confirmation of the Command’s readiness to surpass the ₦2.3 trillion revenue target recorded before the end of 2024.

The statement reads: “Ahead of completing the first half of 2025, the Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service has hit ₦1 trillion revenue collection, which is a landmark achievement in the history of the Service. The Command’s revenue collection table shows a total of ₦1,002,968,178,694.07, this is coming more than 45 days ahead of the first half quarter report of activities.

The CAC who attributed the success to a combination of leadership direction by the Comptroller General of Customs, listed the blocking of revenue leakages and the diligent discharge of functions by officers and men of the area command.

Hitting the ₦1 trillion mark before the middle of the fifth month, according to Olomu, is a confirmation of the Command’s readiness to surpass the total of ₦2.3 trillion that was collected last year before December 2024.

While commending officers and men of the Command for sustaining the tempo of work which he instituted since May 2024 when he assumed office as CAC Apapa Command, Olomu called for increased efforts in ensuring maximum collect of revenue and the suppression of smuggling through diligent cargo examination, and the facilitation of lawful trade.

The CAC also admonished officers and men to sustain and improve on the act of intelligence sharing, robust interactions, cooperation with sister government agencies and regular stakeholder engagements to achieve more and contribute more to the nation’s economic well-being.

While expressing delight about the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs,  Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, which includes deployment of a Unified Customs Management System, also known as B’Odogwu, Olomu said the CGC’s operational thrust has shown prospects for higher productivity being demonstrated by the Command.

He said that with the continuous, ongoing training of licensed Customs agents and freight forwarders ahead of the full deployment of B’Odogwu, the Command’s chances of surpassing 2024 collection and meeting 2025 target are even higher.

“Our award-winning reputation remains unshaken as we intensify efforts to maintain our excellent record as the leading customs command domiciled in the nation’s premier port.

“This recent revenue collection milestone only goes to show we are not resting on our oars. Going by the examples of our CGC, we have resolved not to be complacent. It’s important we thank our compliant stakeholders for their support in this journey of national service and reiterate that any unlawful behavior that seeks to undermine national economic drive or compromise the country’s security shall be prevented with full sanctions of the law coming down on perpetrators”, Comptroller Olomu said.

Last year, the Command won several awards for revenue collection, including the CGC Award of Excellence, while Comptroller Olomu emerged ‘Best Controller of the Year’ for his exceptional leadership and improving on the command’s capacity to deliver on its mandates at the Comptroller General of Customs Award night, held in Abuja.