By Stella Okocha
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| Signing out and handing over Ceremony at the Apapa Custom Command |
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| Display of revenue generated from January To August, 2025 |
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| Oshoba receives baton of leadership from his Predecessor Olomu |
Harboursandport.com:Lagos- September 9 2025: The Apapa Custom Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, witnessed a change of baton in leadership on the 8th of September, 2025, as ACG BO Olomu hands over power of control to the new boss of the Command, Comptroller Oluwadare Oshoba
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| Outgoing CAC of the Apapa Custom Command, ACG BO Olomu |
He informed journalists and stakeholders present at the ceremony that he has been newly appointed as an Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, ACG, hence his elevation calls for his tenure as Apapa Command boss to come to an end, and to take up new responsibilities.
"I thank the CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for trusting me with the task of piloting customs affairs in our flagship command, and I want to gladly inform you all that this phase of service for me as CAC Apapa has ended. Providence requests that I move further to serve elsewhere. When I assumed duty on 6 May 2024, it was with sleeves rolled up, two hands on deck, enjoying the maximum support of my officers and men. In addition, the he full cooperation of our esteemed stakeholders comprising of government agencies and private sector operators including the media".
"While this speech and time would not permit me to reel out every of our achievement, I am going to summarize them. Together as a team, we all confronted odds to excel and we accomplished in the areas of revenue collection, anti-smuggling, trade facilitation and robust stakeholders' engagement. This team spirit was imbibed in taking a cue from the CGC's policy direction of working closely with all our stakeholders at various levels. We have laid a solid structure for consolidation under the guidance of the CGC, and I ensured this command can operate optimally on an autopilot mode in revenue and anti-smuggling, stakeholders' engagement, ICT deployment and all other indices for measurement of customs efficiency".
Highlighting some of the achievements of the outgoing CAC, it was recorded that it was on his watch that the command achieved its first ₦2 trillion revenue collection, which is an unprecedented feat by the command in the history of the service; which earned him and the command numerous awards including the CGC Special Award for Excellence in Revenue Collection, Trade Facilitation, and Overall Best Area Controller.
"It is noteworthy to state that we didn't just arrive there. We stayed focused laying the bricks for improvement in our collection hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly to arrive at the outstanding accomplishments. We achieved a record-breaking single-day revenue collection of over ₦17.9 billion on June 19, 2024. Again, the command set another benchmark with 18.2 billion in daily revenue in October 2024. Furthermore, another daily revenue collection record of ₦18.9 billion was made on March 14 2025. .Consequently, for the month of August, 2025, the Command collected 214.9 billion using the newly introduced B'Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System, despite initial technical challenges. As at today, we have collected a total of One trillion, eight hundred and thirty-four billion, seven hundred and eighty-nine million, four hundred and ninety-nine thousand, eight hundred and fifty naira, forty kobo (N1,834,789,499,850.40) for the year 2025".
"I am optimistic that my successor will build on these achievements to surpass our 2025 revenue target of #3 trillion since we have attained 60% of our annual collection".
He added that on the area of Trade Facilitation and Modernization under his watch, the command has been effectively positioned as a central hub for implementing trade facilitation reforms championed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, which aim to modernize the Nigeria Customs Service and enhance Nigeria's participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) recording remarkable milestones.
"While I was here as CAC, Nigeria made its historic first African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) shipment from Apapa Port in July 2024, launching our country's participation in the scheme's Guided Trade Initiative (GTI). Nigerian manufactured goods were sent to five other African countries. Another milestone shipment under AfCFTA from Nigeria which we facilitated was sent to Kenya in November 2024, showcasing our country's active role and commitment to boosting intra-African trade through the agreement."
"Furthermore, while here, together we entrenched a tradition of faster cargo clearance, seamless trade dispute resolution and promotion of compliance for all importers, exporters, freight forwarders, licensed customs agents, terminal operators, bonded terminal owners and everyone interfacing with the NCS through this command".
Speaking on Enforcement/Anti-Smuggling, he noted that despite ensuring maximum collection of all revenue due to the federal government from customs duties, they never slept on our anti-smuggling responsibility.
"Our fight against smuggling was never a rhetoric. We proved to the smugglers and their collaborators that Apapa Port is a no-go area for illegalities. Therefore, the command is poised to always deal with the activities of unscrupulous elements that may want to test our resolve to address the menace of bringing in unregistered and controlled medicaments. In the 15 months I served here, we made 75 seizures of various items broken down to 62 units of 40ft containers and 13 units of 20ft containers. The seizures comprise of fake, expired and substandard medicaments, controlled drugs as codeine syrup, tramadol, Indian hemp, and other items like used clothing, wood etc".
He concluded his appraisal by stating that he ran an open-door policy, ensured easy interaction with all our stakeholders on any impediment associated with trade in Apapa port; making his telephone line also readily available for information sharing and feedback with all stakeholders.
"I want to specially thank God Almighty for bringing me thus far, the CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, all my officers/men, esteemed stakeholders, distinguished members of the fourth estate of the realm for their unwavering support towards our collective success during this period of 15 months I was here as CAC. Finally, our sister agencies like the DSS, Police, Immigration, NDLEA, Port Health, NAFDAC, SON, Quarantine, NPA and others have been very supportive. You all are highly appreciated. As Oliver Twist who always ask for more, I am asking that you do more than that for my successor who is also a distinguished gentleman officer with capability to take this command to greater heights".
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| The newly appointed CAC of the Apapa Custom Command Controller Oluwadare Oshoba |
The newly appointed Customs Area Controller of Nigeria's premier port and the heartbeat of Nigeria’s maritime trade, Oluwadare Oshoba, expressed his profound gratitude to the CGC and the entire management of NCS for entrusting him with such strategic responsibility; assuring the management of his utmost commitment to justify the confidence reposed in him.
Oshoba also paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, ACG BO Olomu, whose tenure has been nothing short of historic in making the Apapa Command become a benchmark for excellence in revenue generation, enforcement, and trade facilitation; emphasizing that the Officers and stakeholders ideas, passion, expertise are the foundation on which his service here shall be built.
"I am committed to fostering an environment where every voice is heard and valued, and my leadership will be guided by three key pillars: Improving revenue excellence, Deepening enforcement and security and Enhancing stakeholder relations. The port community is our partner in progress. We will continue to strengthen trust with importers, exporters, clearing agents, shipping companies, and sister agencies, knowing that trade facilitation and compliance are two sides of the same coin".
"Please indulge me today. I have demands to make from everyone in this room, including Officers and stakeholders who couldn't make it here physically due to the emergencies of work, space and time constraints. I want to request that we renew our dedication and our shared vision for excellence. I solicit for maximum support from every one of you. The Service is currently at a crucial phase in its ICT and modernization drive, marking a very significant turning point in its drive to evolve. The world is changing rapidly, and with change comes opportunities. Together, we will build on the gains of our indigenous platform (B'Odogwu) and cause our workplace to evolve into an ecosystem of rapid innovation and excellence. I ask for your continued support to push the Unified Customs Management System to greater heights.The Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), Time Release Study (TRS), Advanced Ruling (AR) and other trade facilitation programmes, which put NCS ahead of its peers’ Customs administration in Africa, will be the cornerstone of my leadership approach.
"As Nigeria has produced the Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, we are a country of interest in the global Customs community, so let us portray a leading example by upholding the principles of compliance and ensuring unwavering adherence to all legal frameworks governing import, export and excise operations. I believe in the power of collaboration. No one succeeds alone, and I am here to work alongside you not just as a leader, but as a partner in our shared mission. We will face challenges, but we will tackle them together, with resilience and determination. We will also celebrate our successes together, because every milestone we achieve will be a testament to our collective hard work and commitment".
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