Customs revenue at Apapa Port surges by 35% in 6 months
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Command has recorded a 35 percent increase in revenue collection, totaling N1.378 trillion between January and June 2025. This significant achievement underscores the command’s dedication to improving revenue generation and trade facilitation. The Customs Controller in charge of Apapa Command of the Service, Dr. Babatunde Olomu, made this disclosure […]
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Command has recorded a 35 percent increase in revenue collection, totaling N1.378 trillion between January and June 2025.
This significant achievement underscores the command’s dedication to improving revenue generation and trade facilitation.
The Customs Controller in charge of Apapa Command of the Service, Dr. Babatunde Olomu, made this disclosure while giving the command’s revenue profile in the last six months listed some of the key factors contributing to this success to include the Command’s strategic partnerships with freight forwarding associations, notably the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).
The Controller revealed that the collaborations have facilitated smoother trade processes, enhanced compliance, and improved relationships between customs officials and stakeholders.
Dr. Olomu disclosed that the insistence of officers of the command on maximum collection of government revenue by preventing areas of revenue leakages and also through the issuance of Demand Notice (DN), where and when necessary accounts for the surge in revenue in the period under review.
“The Command achieved a total of N1.378 trillion, which represents 35 percent increase above the sum of N1.023 trillion that we collected in the same period in 2024, making N354 billion increase in collection within the period under review.
“It is important that we attribute this collection to our diligent officers abd the compliant traders. On my watch and under the direction of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, we have always insisted on maximum collection of government revenue by preventing leakages and applying demand notice (DN) where abd when necessary.
“Our revenue collection trajectory points to the possibility of achieving or surpassing our annual target by the end of 2025. I have urged my officers and men to brace up and redouble their efforts to make surpassing target a reality.
“As we may be aware, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) also known as B’Odogwu has gone live in the Apapa Command with laudable milestone. In addition to the issuance of the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) being issued using the homegrown technology, we have achieved issuance of the first Single Goods Declaration on May 9, 2025 using B’Odogwu platform. For us this marks a significant shift towards faster, more reliable cargo handling.
“We have created a robust platform that facilitate trade and wnsures the swift clearance of cargo. We are addressing some of the challenges such as poor network connectivity, delays and congestion associated with the former system” he added.
On the evacuation of cargo, Dr. Olomu disclosed that the command is making frantic efforts at reviving the movement of cargo by rail in order the decongest the port, reduce pressure on access roads in and out of Apapa and provide a viable and cost effective option if cargo movement to importers, exporters as well as freight forwarding practitioners.
The Controller also disclosed that the command recorded the seizure of a total of nine containers, comprising of unregistered pharmaceuticals, used clothing, expired margarine, wild animal skin and codeine syrup.
“As a fallout from our uncompromising anti-smuggling operations, we have sealed 3 bonded terminals under the command for various infractions. One of the terminals has been charged to court for prosecution while investigation is still ongoing on the remaining two terminals.
“Let me use this medium to once again warn perpetrators of illegal acts that Apapa Port Command is manned by eagle eyed officers, who are activated to detect and seize uncustom goods with a clear mandate to arrest perpetrators. We have demonstrated our capacity in this regard and we shall continue to do more.
“Let me use the opportunity of this briefing to acknowledge and commend other sister government agencies for their support. We have always enjoyed their robust intelligence sharing and joint consultations towards national security. Our togetherness has always stood as great blows to criminals and their activities. We shall continue strengthening the bond” he said.