The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it achieved a revenue milestone of N2.01 trillion as of November 19, 2024, bringing it closer to its annual target of N2.2 trillion, which it aims to meet by the end of November.
This was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, during a parade with officers and men on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
Olomu credited the command’s performance to its commitment to excellence and alignment with the directives of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who recently announced the service’s total revenue collection of N5.07 trillion at the CGC Conference in Abuja.
According to Olomu, the Apapa Command contributed 40% of the total NCS revenue, underscoring its critical role in driving the service’s overall performance. “This achievement highlights the significant expectations placed on this command and the responsibility we bear in sustaining the momentum,” he said.
The CAC charged officers to emulate CGC Adeniyi’s exemplary leadership in revenue collection, trade facilitation, and uncompromising enforcement.
He stressed the importance of sustaining the command’s trajectory of high performance while ensuring that seizures made from smugglers include the arrest of suspects for prosecution. “Arresting smugglers along with their wares will make a greater impact in our fight against smuggling,” Olomu remarked.
Olomu used the parade to update officers on key resolutions from the recent Comptroller General of Customs Conference. He highlighted outcomes which include: “Sustained diligence in cargo examination, with the deployment of 100% physical checks where necessary, granting enforcement officers access to the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) for operational transparency.
“Avoidance of indiscriminate intervention alerts to promote a unified approach across the service. A ban on commercial activities, such as Point of Sale (PoS) operations and officers doubling as clearing agents, within customs formations.”
Additionally, he announced new initiatives, including routine medical checks for officers, recognition programmes for outstanding productivity, inter-zonal games development by the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), and full automation of the transire process by the first quarter of 2025. The expansion of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) and Advance Ruling (AR) schemes was also outlined as part of the service’s modernization efforts.
To motivate officers, Comptroller Olomu revealed plans for an award night to honor individuals and stakeholders who contributed to the command’s 2024 successes. During the parade, he presented plaques to outstanding units and officers for their exceptional performance.
The Compliance Unit was recognized for recovering over N2 billion in the past three months, while the Revenue Recovery Unit received accolades for preventing a potential revenue loss of N3 billion in the same period. Assistant Comptroller M. Samad was awarded for consistently detecting under-valuation cases, and Inspector of Customs Adamu Bashir was named the “Best Dressed and Most Punctual Officer.”
Olomu concluded by urging officers to continue their dedication to duty, emphasizing that their collective efforts remain pivotal to achieving the command’s targets and advancing the NCS’s objectives.
