In an impressive display of operational excellence, the Apapa Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has set a new benchmark in revenue collection, amassing N1.875 trillion between January and October 2024.
This remarkable achievement was highlighted by the Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, during a press briefing on Monday, where he detailed the Command’s impressive growth and commitment to its revenue targets.
The 2024 revenue figure represents a 101% increase over the N931.1 billion collected during the same period in 2023, underscoring the Command’s dedication to surpassing its annual targets despite a challenging trade environment.
October was a particularly groundbreaking month for the Command, achieving a record-breaking monthly collection of N264.455 billion—the highest monthly figure in the Command’s history.
Within October, the Command also set a new daily collection record, hitting N18.2 billion.
With these gains, Olomu expressed confidence that the Command is well-positioned to meet and potentially exceed its 2024 revenue target of N2.2 trillion in the coming weeks. Currently, the Command stands just N124.6 billion shy of this goal.
Despite facing a decline in trade volume, the Command has leveraged innovative trade facilitation tools like the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program and Advanced Ruling to maintain efficient cargo movement.
In alignment with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda, Apapa Customs now operates on weekends, ensuring that importers can clear and take delivery of goods without unnecessary delays.
“We also operate with an intra-governmental system that fosters collaboration between all agencies, working seamlessly to fulfill our respective mandates,” said Olomu. “Our wider customs-stakeholder forum addresses issues promptly, enhancing overall efficiency.”
Significantly, the Command also facilitated its first shipment to Kenya under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, marking a milestone for Nigeria’s participation in intra-African trade.
On the anti-smuggling front, the Command reported the interception of six containers carrying unwholesome and falsely declared pharmaceutical and controlled products. These items were handed over to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action. “This handover underscores our commitment to inter-agency collaboration and our vigilance in protecting the Nigerian market from illicit imports,” Olomu emphasised.
The seized items, which included expired medications and unapproved doses of controlled substances like tramadol and codeine, could have posed serious risks to public health had they entered the market.
Since January 2024, the Command has made over 36 seizures valued at N1.5 billion, including items like used clothing, frozen poultry, unregistered pharmaceuticals, and other restricted goods.
Olomu attributed the Command’s high compliance rate to regular stakeholder engagement, as well as strong partnerships with sister government agencies and private sector stakeholders.
“I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our partners and colleagues across government agencies,” he said. “Their unwavering support has been invaluable in driving the success we celebrate today.”
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