SPECIAL REPORT: Apapa Customs: All about standards, collaboration and optimal returns

In 2025 when Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba assumed office as the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Port Command, Nigeria Customs Service, he promised to promote and facilitate trade, fight smuggling and drive revenue generation.

Oshoba also promised stakeholders such as port terminal operators, freight forwarders, Customs licensed agents and sister government agencies regular engagement and interaction with a view to boosting cargo clearance and fighting against smuggling in the overall interests of the national economy and consummation of the Renewed Hope of the federal government of Nigeria.

Cognizant of the importance of the workforce to the realization of the envisioned success, the CAC prioritized the welfare of officers and men of the Customs command. Their accommodation, their official and personal essentials were provided to ensure optimal performance.

These proactive measures have manifested in quicker ship turnaround time, efficient and quicker cargo clearance, impactful anti-smuggling engagements, increasing revenue generated and a happy work place.

Trade facilitation
The bedrock of this is the innovative and inspiring leadership provided by Comptroller General of Customs,  Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, PhD. The CGC has been a positive departure from what hitherto was the modus operandi in the administration of Customs.

Dr Adewale has embraced and deployed various Information Communication Technology (ICT) tools to enhance and boost trade facilitation in all ports and borders across the country.

These tools include Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) widely known as B’Odogwu, a Data Analytics Centre, and the deployment of FS6000 non-intrusive cargo scanner, capable of scanning up to 200 containers per hour.

These innovations have been readily handy for Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba who has exploited them to maximum utilitarian effects. Apapa Customs Command, because of its unique placement as the biggest and foremost customs command in Nigeria and arguably in West/ Central Africa, has been second to none in the application of lCT, especially the B’Odogwu in facilitating customs processing.

The Data Analytics Center: The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, when commissioning the Data Analytics Centre described it as a critical tool for effective communication and cooperation among global institutions aimed at enhancing intelligence-driven operations and improve cargo clearance processes in Apapa Port.

Oshoba also described the new facility as the beginning of a new era in intelligence-driven operations in the Customs Service, noting that overall, the efficiency brought to  bear on operations would improve officers welfare and mental alertness.

Recognizing the importance of these tools in achieving the overall goal of the Service for the national economy, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba  effectively deployed them and the results are the increase in seizures, fast and seamless cargo clearance, improvement in the level of compliance and the phenomenal increase in revenue generation by the command.

Anti-smuggling activities
From December 2025 to May 2026, the command intercepted many imports of hard drugs, illegal and expired pharmaceutical products and other items that violated extant import laws. These interceptions, according to Comptroller Oshoba, were successful because of collaboration between the command and other sister agencies such as National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration And Control( NAFDAC).

Datelines of some of the seizures:

December 2025: 1,187kg of Canadian Loud, a premium and highly expensive strain of cannabis, packaged in 2,374 parcels across 55 bags and concealed within imported vehicles in a 1x40ft container, was seized.

December 2025: 1,187kg of Canadian Loud, an expensive strain of cannabis concealed inside an imported vehicles, at Apapa Port, Lagos, seized.

January 2026:  30 slabs of cocaine weighing 30.1 kilograms onboard MV Aruna Hulya, a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, at Apapa Port, Lagos, seized.

Jan 2026:  the Command intercepted 347.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud; a potent strain of cannabis, hidden inside an imported Toyota Sienna vehicle.

March 2026:  Two containers of 3,398 cartons (339,800 bottles) of Codeine-containing Syrup (CSP Codeine) carefully concealed in household utensils at the Apapa Port Worth with a duty paid value of ₦3,398,000,000.00 seized.

June 2026: 1 x 40FT container conveying a large consignment of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as “Canadian Loud,” intercepted. Also, seized was 2 x 40FT containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products illegally imported into the country.

The total Duty Paid Value of both items seized at Apapa Port in Lagos was N12,784,479,341.72k.

All these seizures, quoting Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, were a clear demonstration of the Command’s unwavering commitment to the directives and vision of the CGC Adewale Adeniyi.

Security,Partnership/Collaboration
It must be stressed that Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba has worked relentlessly with other agencies in and around the port in the fight against smuggling and enhancement of national security via the port. These collaborations, particularly with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has helped the command in the interception of some illegal drugs and contraband pharmaceutical products.

In the area of national security, the Controller works with key security agencies such as the Nigerian Navy and Marine Police. He visits these organizations with a view to solidifying and deepening collaboration  security in and around the premier port.

According to Oshoba,  the Apapa Area Command remains steadfast in its resolve to protect public health, safeguard national security and facilitate only legitimate trade, in line with the CGC’s renewed emphasis on technology-driven operations and zero tolerance for smuggling activities.

Revenue Generation
In January 2026, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba disclosed that the command recorded a total revenue of ₦2,930,508,827,110.32  in 2025, the highest ever generated by any Customs command in Nigeria’s history.

According to him, this figure marks an impressive revenue leap of ₦573.29 billion over the ₦2.35 trillion collected in 2024. This represents a solid 24.32% growth, firmly positioning Apapa as Nigeria’s premier revenue engine.

He described the result as “a clear testament to the power of purposeful reforms, disciplined execution, and the commitment of officers and stakeholders to national economic growth.”

“This performance did not happen by accident, It is the outcome of effective leadership from the Comptroller-General, disciplined manpower, and the smart application of technology. Our stakeholders also deserve commendation for embracing compliance, which made our processes faster and more transparent,” Oshoba said.

A major driver of the Command’s success was the expanded use of the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) widely known as B’Odogwu which significantly boosted transparency, efficiency, and accountability in cargo clearance.

“B’Odogwu changed the game for Apapa. It eliminated delays, plugged leakages, and created a predictable system that supported both revenue and trade facilitation,” Oshoba stated.

Welfare
To boost morale and welfare of the workforce, the Oshoba administration established a Command Clinic to improve their health. The command also trained its officers and men on a comprehensive basic first aid treatment to save life where medical hospitals are not readily available.

The training was carried out by the Medical Team of the Service, from Zone A, which the Controller of the command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, described as a crucial investment in workplace safety and operational readiness.

He noted that the provision of quality healthcare facilities remains essential to ensuring that officers remain physically and mentally fit to carry out their responsibilities effectively in demanding operational environments.

Commendations
In appreciations of his excellent work and sterling leadership, the World Customs Organization honoured Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, with a Certificate of Merit on Monday, 26 January 2026.

Also, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba and his officers and men were commended by the Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG) Mohammed Babandede, for their exceptional performance in revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations and trade facilitation throughout the year 2025.

Looking ahead, Comptroller Oshoba expressed strong optimism for 2026. “We are confident that 2026 will surpass 2025. With deeper implementation of B’Odogwu, AEO, and the One-Stop Shop, alongside strengthened intelligence-led enforcement and wider inter-agency collaboration, Apapa will continue to break new grounds,” he said.