The Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), last Friday, made a daily revenue collection of ₦18.9bn, an achievement standing out as the highest in history of the Command.
The new record broke the existing highest daily collection of ₦18.2b which was recorded in October 2024.
Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, fsi, Ph.D, described the feat as the beginning of greater exploits to be achieved in 2025.
He said dedication of officers to duty, sustenance of compliance as a norm and promotion of industrial harmony in Apapa Port, as well as the unwavering support of the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, contributed to the achievement.
Olomu, acting under the directives of the CGC spearheaded high level discussions to partner with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in resolving all crises with port users and truckers over issues around the Eto’o call up system which had caused traffic gridlock along the Apapa Port corridor.
Further to the CGC’s directives, Comptroller Olomu also stepped in to prevent the planned withdrawal of service by maritime workers and freight forwarders due to unresolved issues between them on one hand and APM Terminals on the other hand.
“The efforts of the CAC prevented a shutdown of port activities and promoted productivity with seamless import and export activities,” NCS PRO, Apapa Area Command, SC Tunde Ayagbalo, stated in a press release.
The NCS Apapa Command Controller spoke on the impressive revenue collection and harmonious working environment: “Ports are critical national assets with direct impacts on the economy touching on local and global trade.
“It is, therefore, imperative to keep the ports working, especially Apapa Port, which accounts for the highest volume of cargoes coming into Nigeria.
“In line with the directives of the CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, who has promotion of robust stakeholders engagement as one of his cardinal thrust, we intervened in the disputes involving sister government agencies, terminal operators and stakeholders in the port.
“It is heartwarming to note that our intervention succeeded in promoting uninterrupted trade and strengthening port users’ confidence.
“Our record-breaking achievement of ₦18.9b daily collection on Friday, March 14 , 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 are ever ready to detect concealment, under declaration, false declaration and other antics geared towards duty evasion.”
