By Fred JEREMIAH, Lagos
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 command’s first half report of activities.
This information was contained in a statement issued and signed by the command Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs, Tunde Ayagbalo, and made available to GLOBAL RAYS Media.
In his remarks, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, the Customs Area Controller, CAC, attributed the success to a combination of leadership direction of the Comptroller General of Customs, blocking areas of revenue leakages and the diligent discharge of functions on the part of Officers and men in the area.
His words: “Hitting the ₦1 trillion mark before the middle of the fifth month is a confirmation of the Command’s readiness to surpass the total of ₦2.3 trillion that was collected last year before December 2024.”
The CAC commended the Officers and men of the Command for sustaining the rising tempo of work which he instituted since May 2024 when he assumed office as CAC Apapa Command, the Controller called for increased efforts in ensuring maximum collection, suppression of smuggling through diligent cargo examination and facilitation of lawful trade.
Compt Babatunde Olomu, PhD, asserted, “All Officers and men in the Command should 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 to the nation’s economic well-being.”
He added, “The policy thrust of the CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, which includes deployment of a Unified Customs Management System, also known as B’Odogwu has shown prospects for higher productivity by the Command and with the 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 higher.”
The CAC reiterated that, “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.”
Speaking further, Compt Olomu, posited, “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 and It’s important we thank our compliant stakeholders for their support in this journey of national service and 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. “
However, 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.
