The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has received commendation from the Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG) Mohammed Babandede, over what he described as an exceptional performance in revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations and trade facilitation in 2025.
Babandede gave the commendation on Thursday, February 5, 2026, during a familiarisation visit to the Command, where he met with officers and men and reviewed the Command’s operational activities and performance record. The visit, according to him, was aimed at acknowledging the challenges faced by the Command, appreciating its achievements and boosting the morale of personnel who have continued to post strong results in key areas of Customs operations.
Speaking during an address to officers, the Zonal Coordinator noted that the Apapa Command had not only met but exceeded its annual revenue target, describing the feat as a reflection of discipline, professionalism and commitment to duty among officers of the Command. He said the performance was particularly significant given the strategic importance of Apapa Port as the nation’s busiest seaport and a critical hub for Nigeria’s international trade.
Beyond revenue, Babandede also praised the Command’s sustained anti-smuggling drive, with particular reference to recent seizures of narcotics and other illicit substances, including cocaine and tramadol. He described the interceptions as a major contribution to national security and public health, stressing that the fight against smuggling remains central to the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to him, effective enforcement is not only about blocking revenue leakages but also about protecting society from harmful and prohibited items, while creating a secure environment for legitimate trade to flourish. He added that the balance between enforcement and facilitation is crucial to the Service’s broader reform objectives.
While acknowledging that revenue generation often attracts the most public attention, the Zonal Coordinator reminded officers that the responsibilities of the Service go far beyond revenue to include national security, public safety and trade facilitation. In this regard, he commended the Apapa Command for its level of inter-agency collaboration and urged officers to further strengthen cooperation with sister agencies, especially in the deployment of trade facilitation tools and procedures.
He noted that such cooperation has helped to position the Service at what he described as an “upper-class operational rating,” and stressed that sustained partnership with other government agencies is key to improving efficiency at the ports and reducing bottlenecks in cargo clearance processes.
Babandede also used the opportunity to speak on issues of integrity, reputation management, mentorship and capacity building within the Command. He charged senior officers to deliberately transfer knowledge and experience to younger personnel in order to build a stronger and more professional Service in the long term.
On officers’ welfare and health, the Zonal Coordinator disclosed that drug tests would be conducted across Commands, advising personnel to remain health-conscious and disciplined in their personal conduct to ensure effective service delivery. He said maintaining a healthy and credible workforce was essential to sustaining the gains recorded by the Service.
In his response, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, expressed appreciation to the Zonal Coordinator for what he described as a timely and motivating visit. He said the presence of the Zone A Coordinator had further encouraged officers and men of the Command to remain focused and committed to their responsibilities.
Oshoba reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining its performance across revenue generation, enforcement, trade facilitation, inter-agency cooperation and ethical conduct. He stressed that the Command would continue to operate in strict adherence to the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and the policy direction of the Comptroller-General of Customs.
He added that Apapa Command would remain resolute in supporting the Service’s broader objectives of securing the nation’s borders, facilitating legitimate trade and contributing to economic growth through efficient and transparent Customs operations.
The visit underscores the strategic importance of the Apapa Area Command within the Nigeria Customs Service structure and comes amid renewed emphasis by the Service on performance, integrity and institutional reform across its formations nationwide.
