Apapa Customs Sets New Record with N18.9 Billion Daily Revenue Collection
…Comptroller Olomu Attributes Success to Officers’ Dedication and Industrial Harmony
The Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has set a new record in revenue collection, amassing a historic N18.9 billion in a single day on Friday, 14 March 2025.
This remarkable achievement surpasses the previous highest daily collection of N18.2 billion, recorded in October 2024, and marks a significant milestone in the Command’s revenue generation history.
The Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, fsi, Ph.D, hailed the accomplishment as a sign of greater exploits to come in 2025.
He credited the success to the unwavering dedication of the officers, the sustained culture of compliance at the port, the promotion of industrial harmony, and the steadfast support of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR.
Comptroller Olomu, acting under the directives of the CGC, played a pivotal role in resolving critical operational issues at the port. He spearheaded high-level discussions with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to address the longstanding challenges posed by the Eto’o call-up system, which had previously caused traffic gridlock along the Apapa Port corridor.
His strategic intervention led to a resolution of the crisis, facilitating smoother traffic flow and improving overall operational efficiency.
In addition, Comptroller Olomu intervened to prevent a planned withdrawal of services by maritime workers and freight forwarders over unresolved disputes with APM Terminals.
His swift action averted a potential shutdown of port activities, ensuring uninterrupted import and export operations and enhancing productivity at the port.
Speaking on the milestone achievement, Comptroller Olomu highlighted the strategic importance of ports to Nigeria’s economy and global trade.
“Ports are critical national assets with direct impacts on the economy, influencing both local and global trade. It is, therefore, imperative to keep the ports working, especially Apapa Port, which accounts for the highest volume of cargo coming into Nigeria,” he said.
He further emphasised the importance of stakeholder engagement, in line with the CGC’s mandate.
“In line with the directives of the CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, who has made the promotion of robust stakeholder engagement a key priority, we intervened in the disputes involving sister government agencies, terminal operators, and port stakeholders. It is heartwarming to note that our intervention succeeded in promoting uninterrupted trade and strengthening port users’ confidence,” he stated.
On the record-breaking daily revenue collection, Comptroller Olomu remarked, “Our record-breaking achievement of N18.9 billion daily collection on Friday, 14 March 2025, is the beginning of greater exploits to be attained this year. We are also not lowering our guard in the fight against smuggling, as our officers remain vigilant in detecting concealments, under-declaration, false declaration, and other tactics aimed at evading duty.”
