Apapa Customs Command Shines at CGC Awards Night, Sets New Revenue Record
The Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been honoured with three prestigious awards during the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Award Night, held on Friday, 29th November 2024, in Abuja.
The awards celebrated the command’s remarkable achievements in revenue collection, anti-smuggling efforts, and trade facilitation, with its Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, emerging as the “Best Controller of the Year.”
The CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, presented the awards in recognition of the command’s groundbreaking milestones under Comptroller Olomu’s leadership.
According to CSC Abubakar Usman, Customs Public Relations Officer, Apapa Command, among these milestones was an unprecedented revenue generation of N2 trillion as of 20th November 2024, marking a historic achievement for the command.
Comptroller Olomu was lauded for his exceptional leadership, which has not only improved the command’s efficiency but also bolstered its capacity to fulfil its mandates at Nigeria’s premier port.
By introducing daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly evaluations of activities, he ensured timely processing of entries, diligent examination of goods, and the prevention of revenue leakages, even amidst low trade volumes.
Addressing attendees after receiving the accolades, Comptroller Olomu dedicated the awards to the officers and men of the command, emphasising that teamwork, dedication, and focus were the pillars of their success.
He highlighted the critical role of supportive lieutenants and stakeholders in achieving these feats and urged continued cooperation as the year 2024 draws to a close.
Comptroller Olomu expressed gratitude to CGC Adeniyi, describing him as a source of inspiration and a role model for all customs officers.
He further pledged to use the awards as motivation to sustain and enhance the command’s operational tempo across all bonded terminals under its jurisdiction.
Olomu called on port users to remain law-abiding and to collaborate with the NCS and other security agencies by reporting any suspected illegal activities.
He also praised traders, especially exporters operating under the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), for their compliance and contributions to national economic growth.
The Comptroller urged Nigerian business owners to take advantage of the ease of doing business at Apapa Port, facilitated by simplified procedures under the NCS’s ongoing modernisation initiatives.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to supporting traders and fostering seamless trade operations.
In a message to his officers, Comptroller Olomu underscored that the awards – recognising the command as the “Best Command of the Year,” the “Best Command in Revenue Collection,” and himself as the “Best Customs Area Controller” – should serve as a challenge to intensify their efforts.
He reminded them that compliance not only saves time and money but also builds integrity, positioning businesses for positive profiling and eventual upgrade to Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status.
The Apapa Command’s achievements have further solidified its reputation for excellence within the NCS, setting a benchmark for other commands to emulate.
