Apapa Customs Begins its Revenue Collection Sprint in 2025, Hits N18.9B New Daily Record-Breaking Mark … As Comptroller Olomu Assures of a Vibrant Working Port System

Apapa Customs Begins its Revenue Collection Sprint in 2025, Hits N18.9B New Daily Record-Breaking Mark

… As Comptroller Olomu Assures of a Vibrant Working Port System

BY FELIX KUMUYI

Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, fsi, Ph.D, CAC, Apapa Area Command, NCS

The Apapa Area One Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has in a grand style reminded industry Watchers that it remained the command to beat when it comes to customs operational narrative, with vibrant revenue collection for the service.                

The foremost ‘numero uno’ command of the service has once again hit the mark’ as it recently attained a record-breaking daily revenue collection of Eighteen Billion, Nine Hundred Million (N18.9Billion) in a singular daily collection, which was achieved on Friday March 14, 2025, to announce its readiness for a blistering 2025 revenue collection feat.        

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Babatunde Olomu fsi, PhD, a positive thinker, under whose watch numerous feats like this was realized has continued to display his leadership magic wand with pragmatic measures put in place to ensure that the command stayed atop its course as a leading brand in achieving result-oriented customs mandates.      

Comptroller Olomu in his recent press statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the command, SC Tunde Ayagbali, has in this regard described the spectacular feat as the beginning of greater exploits to be achieved in 2025. He further noted that officer’s dedication to duty, sustenance of compliance as a norm and promotion of industrial harmony in Apapa Port as well as the CGC’s unwavering support contributed to the achievement of the ₦18.9bn collection which stands out as the highest in history of the command.

It was gathered that this new record breaks the existing highest daily collection of ₦18.2b which was achieved in October 2024.

In another significant vibrant work posture of the Area Controller to place the command on high pedestal in the scheme of things, Comptroller Olomu further disclosed that, acting under the directives of the CGC, he had spearheaded high level discussions to partner with the Nigerian Ports Authority in resolving all crises with port users and truckers over issues around the Eto’o call up system which had caused traffic gridlock along the Apapa Port corridor.

In furtherance to the CGC’s directives, Comptroller Olomu has also stepped in to prevent the planned withdrawal of service by maritime workers and freight forwarders due to unresolved issues between them on one hand and APM Terminals on the other hand.

It was also gathered that, the efforts of the CAC prevented a shutdown of port activities and promoted productivity with seamless import and export activities.

According his statements, while speaking on the impressive revenue collection and harmonious working environment, Comptroller Olomu noted that, “Ports are critical national assets with direct impacts on the economy touching on local and global trade. It is, therefore, imperative to keep the ports working, especially Apapa Port, which accounts for the highest volume of cargoes coming into Nigeria.

“In line with the directives of the CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR who has promotion of robust stakeholders engagement as one of his cardinal thrust, we intervened in the disputes involving sister government agencies, terminal operators and stakeholders in the port.

“It is heartwarming to note that our intervention succeeded in promoting uninterrupted trade and strengthening port users’ confidence.

“Our record-breaking achievement of ₦18.9b daily collection on Friday, March 14, 2025 is the beginning of greater exploits to be attained this year”, the CAC said.             

Also in the enforcement area mandate of the command, Comptroller Olomu said that his led operatives of the command are well alive and vigilant enough to their responsibilities at ensuring that only legitimate goods and consignments are allowed and cleared to pass through the operational ports within its jurisdiction.

He said, “We are also not lowering our guard in the fight against smuggling as our officers are ever ready to detect concealment, under declaration, false declaration, and other antics geared towards duty evasion.”