Anti-Smuggling: Compt. Olomu Promises to Stay on Course ahead of Smugglers at Apapa Port

Anti-Smuggling: Compt. Olomu Promises to Stay on Course ahead of Smugglers at Apapa Port

… Gets NAFDAC Commendation for Uncompromising Stance

Comptroller Babatunde Olomu PhD, fsi, CAC, Apapa Command, NCS

Just as the Apapa Area Premier Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) continued to be in the news for the right reasons in relation to outstanding performance in its mandates of revenue collection, anti-smuggling and trade facilitation, the ‘numero uno’ command had as well promised to sustain the performance tempo with renewed vigour of improved determination and commitment.

This huge performance trend being witnessed at the command, is said to have assumed a dimension never before envisaged since the advent of the magic wand leadership of the present Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Babatunde Olomu PhD, fsi who continued to showcase regular humongous revenue collection trajectory, unimaginable record of anti-smuggling exploits, with billions of naira worth of contraband seizures, most especially life threatening and offensive seized goods being exhibited on a regular basis, with a super inter-agency collaboration.

Olomu

To this, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu fsi in a recent statement on the vibrant anti-smuggling posture of the Apapa port command made available to the press by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SC JT Ayagbalo, further reiterated the Command’s readiness to continuously be ahead of smugglers by always deploying intelligence with uncompromising enforcement stance to prevent prohibited items from being brought into the country.

Comptroller Olomu made this disclosure on Monday, 18 August 2025, when he received Dr. Martin Iluyomade fsi, Director, Inspection and Enforcement Directorate of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). He further revealed that renewed antics by smugglers to use fake registration numbers and false declarations have always failed under his leadership watch at the command.

Continuing in his remarks to the visiting Director, who also doubles as Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Fake, Substandard Drugs and Unwholesome Food, Olomu said that Apapa Command is very committed to the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the Comptroller General of Customs and the Director General of NAFDAC aim at preventing smuggling of items under the agency’s regulatory purview.

He however urged NAFDAC to expedite action in evacuating handed over containers from the port, as he assured that efforts will be sustained to achieve arrest of suspects and hand them over with the seizures.

In addition, the CAC said arresting the persons involved in the acts is a major step to demobilize the human element influence in the smuggling supply chain cycle and this will deter others from such illegal activities.

He further revealed that, officers under his watch have joined the CGC in imbibing zero tolerance for smuggling and will do the needful to avoid situations where our laws are circumvented for the lives of Nigerians to be endangered by what they eat, drink or by the use of arms and ammunition brought into the country illegally.

In his words, “a recent seizure of 32 containers that attracted the presence of the CGC who personally supervised their handing over to NAFDAC attests to the smooth working relationship between both organisations and justifying their recently signed MoU”, he said.

On his part, Iluyomade commended Comptroller Olomu for being uncompromising and making what he called Life Saving Seizures. “You can kill one or two persons with guns, but you can kill a whole nation with fake drugs, unwholesome food, and harmful medicine. It’s like those importing it are declaring war on the citizens of this country”, the NAFDAC enforcement official stated.

He further described Comptroller Olomu as the best Area Controller Apapa command ever had, as he recalled starting his career as a young employee of NAFDAC many years ago and confirmed that customs anti-smuggling efforts have evolved for the better.

Iluyomade added that awards of best command given to Apapa Area under Olomu were truly earned and very deserving. He also sought support to secure handed over containers from being pilfered ahead of NAFDAC evacuation.