‘We’ll Not Sacrifice Compliance For Trade Facilitation’- Olomu

BY FUNMI ALUKO

Compt Olomu, middle, to his right, Buba Wakawa, Assistant Commander of Narcotic, and to his left, AC Abubakar and High Chief Timothy Okorocha, immediate past president of the League of Maritime Editors

The leadership of the Apapa Customs Port yesterday, May 22, 2025 once again declared that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will not sacrifice compliance on the altar of trade facilitation as he announced the seizure of six containers of prohibited items including unregistered pharmaceuticals with a Duty Paid Valued (DPV) of N3,247427,969.00 (Three billion, Two hundred and forty-seven million, Four hundred and twenty-seven thousand Nine hundred and sixty-nine naira).

The development is coming barely two weeks after the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi was at the command to showcase a total of 12 containers of seized pharmaceuticals.

Briefing the press on the latest seizures which includes two vehicles believed to have been stolen and illegally imported to Nigeria, the Apapa Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Babatunde Olomu fsi, informed that the seizure was in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and in collaboration with foreign partners.

Addressing newsmen on the command’s latest exploit, Olomu said the seizures are fallouts of its uncompromising anti-smuggling activities.

“Let me start by saying that this command is not sacrificing compliance on the altar of trade facilitation. On my watch and with the inspiring guidance of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, who was in the command two weeks ago to showcase 12 containers of seized pharmaceuticals.

“Consequently, as a result of our painstaking efforts, we recently uncovered 6 more containers laden with prohibited items mostly unregistered pharmaceuticals. Other items in the seized containers are cosmetics, used clothing and two vehicles illegally imported into the country. These seizures are worth a total DPV: N3,247427,969.00 (Three billion, Two hundred and forty-seven million, Four hundred and twenty-seven thousand Nine hundred and sixty-nine naira).”

While breaking down the seizures into three categories, Olomu listed them as follows:.

➤ Container No. SUDU 8685733 (40FT) was found to contain 1,698 of RTPL CSC Cough syrup with codeine concealed in 202 packages of water closet.

➤ Container No. MRSU 4846204 (40FT) was found to contain 1,690 cartons of codeine syrup concealed in toilet seat. The two seizures nave a street value of N2,710,400.00 (Two billion, seven hundred and ten million, four hundred | thousand naira only).

“Interestingly, these two containers were intercepted as a res result of international collaboration as well as local networking with officers and men of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)”, Olomu said.

On the second category, he listed the following:

➤ Container No. ONEU 1153150 (40 FT) found to contain 1,584 packages of Globatin anti-marks & 30g Clobetasol cream falsely declared as TRUCK TYRES.

➤ Container No. MRSU 3258823 (40 FT) was found to contain Rabeprazole, for injection, 25mg Zahifranil tablets, 1000mg vancomycine hydrochloride, ciprophetadine with vitamin B complex, and other pharmaceutical products without NAFDAC registration number, falsely declared as kitchen wares and tables.

Third and final category:

➤ Container No. MRKU 0904594 (40 FT) was found to contain two stolen vehicles from Canada. A 2024 model Lexus RX 450 vehicle with chasis number JTJCJNGA6R2017707 and another 2023 Lexus RX 350 with chasis number 2T2BAMCAPCO32741, falsely declared as food items.

➤ While container No. SEKU 4716830 (40 FT) was found to contain 390 bales of used clothing which contravenes the import prohibition law.

Comptroller Olomu says the obligation and commitment of the Service to continue to protect the health and wellbeing of Nigerians is nonnegotiable.

“Therefore, while we facilitate trade, collect revenue for government, the NCS owe the Nigerian people the duty of protecting them from dangerous imports that are injurious to their health and wellbeing.

“As officers at the nation’s largest, busiest and premier port, we are determined to avoid making Nigerians vulnerable to the selfish interests of merchant of death whose stock in trade is to bring in harmful substances like the ones I shall be showing you today. We also intercepted two cars stolen from Canada that was attempted to be smuggled into Nigeria like I mentioned earlier on.

“In addition to contravening the Nigeria Customs Service Act. 2023, these Imported containers with prohibited medical items also violate the World Customs Organization’s Operation Stop IV – which is a global enforcement operation against trafficking in counterfeit, substandard and unauthorized medical supplies”, adding:

“So far, three suspects have been arrested in connection with these seizures and are at various stages of interrogation to face the full wrath of the law.”

Olomu also used the opportunity to present a recap of the command’s impressive scorecard in revenue generation, as the command continues to break own records in revenue related charts flowing from a regularly re-engineered strategies under his watch.

“Let me use this briefing to intimate you that having crossed the one trillion-naira collection before the end of the fifth month, we have so far generated a total of 1,094 trillion as at 21 May 2025. This collection confirms our trajectory and laudable antecedent of meeting and surpassing our target. Like we’ve done before, we are ready to do better this year

“Our chronicle of outstanding revenue collection speaks boldly for us and attests to our capacity to do more. For instance, in October 2024, we collected N18.2 billion; on March 14, 2025, we recorded a feat of N18.9 billion and on 20 May, 2025, we made another record-breaking collection of N18.919 billion All these were groundbreaking daily collections.”

While handing over the offesnsive items to representatives of NDLEA he warned economic saboteurs and agents of evil to steer clear of the command failing which, every acts of violation will continued to be visited with the full force of the law.

“Let me use this briefing to warn that Apapa Port will remain a no-go area for any unlawful activity and our officers are very much ready to uncover concealments and effect seizures or arrest where necessary.”

Present at the event anchored by a former ace public relations officer, Assistant Comptroller Usman Abubakar, were the leadersip of sister government agencies including the Nigerian Port Police.