APAPA CUSTOMS RALLIES OFFICERS ON REVENUE GROWTH, DISCIPLINE AND TRADE EFFICIENCY
Apapa Customs Rallies Officers on Revenue Growth, Discipline, and Trade Efficiency
By Babatunde Aremu
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has called on officers to sustain momentum on revenue collection while upholding discipline and improving trade facilitation at Nigeria’s busiest port.
The charge was delivered during a recent internal engagement where the command reviewed its operational performance and outlined priorities for the rest of 2026. Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, said the command’s gains in 2025 were built on effective leadership, disciplined manpower, and the deployment of technology, and urged officers to build on that foundation.
Apapa Customs posted ₦2.93 trillion in revenue for 2025, a 24.32% increase over the ₦2.36 trillion recorded in 2024. The command credited the growth to the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), known as B’Odogwu, which improved transparency, efficiency and accountability in cargo clearance. fccb
Oshoba also pointed to trade facilitation measures including the rollout of the Authorised Economic Operator Programme and expansion of the One-Stop Shop initiative, which are aimed at speeding up processing for compliant cargoes. Efforts are underway to deploy the FS6000 cargo scanning system capable of scanning up to 200 containers per hour. fccb
On enforcement, the command intercepted 53 containers carrying illicit drugs and prohibited items, including cocaine, tramadol and expired pharmaceuticals, with a Duty Paid Value of ₦12.6 billion. Seized consignments were handed over to NDLEA and NAFDAC for further investigation. fccb
Oshoba stressed that discipline among officers remains critical to sustaining public trust and operational efficiency. He called for closer collaboration with terminal operators, shipping companies, licensed agents, freight forwarders and the media to promote transparency and seamless trade. 92e8
“Regular performance reviews and timely revenue recovery measures further strengthened collections,” he said, adding that the command would continue to prioritise compliance over confrontation. fccb6ccc
Apapa handles a significant portion of Nigeria’s import and export trade, and the command said it remains focused on balancing revenue collection, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling enforcement.
