Apapa Customs Command collects N1.4 trillion, seals three bonded terminals

Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Nigeria Customs Service, says the half of the year 2025 was a very eventful and engaging one for the command as drive for revenue collection, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling produced positive results.

One of the key results of this eventful period is the collection of N1,378,059,019,244.20 revenue by the command into the coffers of the government.

Comptroller Olomu made this known while briefing the press in Lagos on Thursday, July 3, 2025, pointing out that this revenue figure – N1,378,059,019,244.20 – was 35% increase above N1,023,663,842,255.63 collected in the same period in 2024, marking N354 billion increase in collection within the period under review.

“It is important we attribute this collection to our diligent officers and compliant traders. On my watch and under the direction of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, we always insisted on maximum collection of government revenue by preventing leakages and applying Demand Notice (DN) where and when necessary.

“Our revenue collection trajectory points to the possibility of achieving or surpassing our annual target by the end of 2025. I have urged my officers and men to brace up and redouble their efforts to make surpassing target a reality,” said he.

On trade facilitation, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu informed that the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), also known as B’Odogwu, is in full operation in the command.

According to him, “In addition to the issuance of the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) being issued using the homegrown technology, we achieved issuance of the first Single Goods Declaration on the 9th of May 2024 using the B’Odogwu platform. For us, this marks a significant shift towards faster, more reliable cargo handling.

“We have created a robust platform that facilitates trade and ensures the swift clearance of cargo. We are addressing challenges such as poor network connectivity, delays, and congestion associated with the former system,” Olomu said.

To further enhance trade facilitation, he said the command opened talks with the Nigerian Railway Corporation and other stakeholders on developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the movement of goods by rail from Apapa Port to other states. He maintained that the talks have shown prospects for success.

“This effort to revive cargo movement by rail aims to decongest the port, reduce pressure on the Apapa roads and provide a viable and cost-effective option of cargo movement to our importers, exporters, freight forwarding practitioners, haulage operators and licensed Customs agents,” said the Controller.

In the area of anti-smuggling, Comptroller Olomu said the command recorded 28 seizures within this period comprising 10 containers of unregistered pharmaceuticals, 2 containers of codeine syrup, 2 containers of stolen vehicles, 4 containers of second-hand clothing, wild animals’ skin, among others.

The total duty paid value of the seized items was N9,267,443,966.00.

He added that three bonded terminals, as result of uncompromising anti-smuggling operations, were sealed up for various infractions as one of them had been charged to court for prosecution while investigation was still ongoing on the remaining two.

“These seizures are a fallout of our efforts at preventing Nigerians from unwholesome foods and drugs, stopping illicit trade and protecting our local industry.

“As a standard, we will never compromise the health , well-being, safety of Nigerians on the altar of trade facilitation. Every consignment passing through our port undergo diligent check through scanning and physical examination when required,” said he.

He commended other government agencies for their support, saying “we have always enjoyed their robust intelligence sharing and joint consultations towards national security. Our togetherness has always stood as great blows to criminals and their activities. We shall continue strengthening the bond,” submitted Olomu.