Customs Half-year Revenue Rises By 35% At Apapa Port

The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced that its half-year revenue from imports increased by 35 per cent from N1.024 billion in 2024 to N1.378 billion in 2025.

Speaking to newsmen, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Port, Compt. Babatunde Olomu said, the first half of 2025 had been an outstanding period for the command in revenue collection, trade facilitation, and deployment of technology.

According to Olomu, the service deployed a robust platform,  B’Odogwu, that facilitates trade and ensures the timely clearance of cargo.

“The Command achieved a total collection of  (N1.378 billion. This represents a 35 per cent increase above the N1.024 trillion collected within the same period in 2024, marking a N354 billion increase in revenue collection.

“It is important to attribute this collection to our diligent officers and compliant traders. On my watch and under the direction of the CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, we have always insisted on maximum collection of government revenue by preventing leakages and applying demand notices (DN) where and when necessary.”

“We surpassed our collection trajectory and revenue target, achieving laudable milestones, including the issuance of the first Single Goods Declaration (SGD) using the B’Odogwu platform on the 9th of May 2025. This marks a significant shift towards faster and more reliable cargo handling.

“We have deployed a robust platform that facilitates trade and ensures timely clearance of cargo, addressing challenges such as poor network connectivity, delays, and congestion associated with the former system.

“Very recently, under the guidance of the CGC, we opened discussions with officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and other stakeholders from various associations on developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the movement of goods by rail from Apapa Port to other states,” he pointed out.

The Customs boss also announced the seizure of nine containers carrying unregistered pharmaceuticals, used clothing, expired margarine, wild animals’ skin, and codeine syrup by eagle-eyed officers of the command.

He stated that, the nine arrested containers form part of the 27 containers seized between January and June 2025, with a duty paid value (DPV) of N9,267,443,966.00.

Giving more details of the seizure, Compt Olomu said “The seizures are inclusive of 10 containers of unregistered pharmaceuticals, 2 containers of codeine syrup, 2 containers of stolen vehicles, 4 containers of second-hand clothing, amongst others.

“These seizures are a fallout of our efforts at preventing Nigerians from unwholesome foods and drugs, stopping illicit trade and protecting our local industries.

“As a standard, we will never compromise the health, well-being, and safety of Nigerians on the altar of trade facilitation. Every consignment passing through our port undergoes a diligent check through scanning and physical examination when required.

“Unregistered pharmaceuticals are most prominent on the list of twenty-eight (28) seizures made by the command during the period under review. The seizures comprise controlled drugs, used clothes, codeine syrup, wild animals’ skin and other sundry items.

“It is pertinent to note that trafficking of wild animals contravenes the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which Nigeria is a signatory to. Equally, on the detention list is a container of matches imported without the required End User Certificate (EUC) as provided for in our extant laws.

“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”

On trade facilitation, Compt Olomu disclosed that the Command between January and June 2025 has generated the sum of N1.378billion as revenue to the federal government coffers. Compt Olomu urged all officers of the command to double their efforts to make surpassing the target a reality.

Also speaking at the press briefing, Commander of Narcotics, Apapa command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Wakawa, said most importers of fake pharmaceuticals and other illicit drugs usually make use of fake companies and addresses.

“Most of the drugs being imported are brought in the name of fake companies. We have some cases we are prosecuting at the Federal High Court and we had to use their NIN to trace the perpetrators. But, if you use the Bill of Lading, it won’t lead anywhere,” he said.