The Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service also known as the flag ship of all the customs commands in Nigeria has achieved a landmark revenue collection of N11.3bn in a single day on November 22, 2023 beating the existing highest daily collection record of N10bn which was achieved on August 3, 2023.Commenting on this, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba, described the collection as a combination of teamwork, diligence, system audit compliance and zero compromise. He therefore urged the officers and men of the command to sustain the tempo of hard work continuously. It could be observed also that the command collected N135bn for the month of October, which presently is the highest monthly collection in its history.These two highlights of the recent daily and monthly revenue collection achievements should be a motivation for officers to do more to justify the confidence invested in the service by the Federal Government. This in turn is expected to meet the expectations of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, in the areas of maximum revenue collection, legitimate trade facilitation and suppression of smuggling. According to a press release from the Public Relations Officer of the Area Command CSC Abubakar Usman, “the CAC also urged members of the Apapa port community like importers, licensed customs agents, chandlers, haulage operators, and freight forwarders to see compliance and obedience to laws as part of their civic responsibility as citizens.” In line with government policy with civil servants, the customs boss gave assurances that his door will always remain open for dialogue and suggestions on ways to improve customs service delivery and achieve federal government objectives. He did not forget the synergy existing between the service and other security operatives and sister agencies. He lauded them for their cooperation while describing customs relationship with them as excellent all geared towards realizing government goals.In many fora, the Customs Area Controller has maintained that the command will definitely meet the annual revenue target. “We are very optimistic about meeting our target for the year. Even though, from the initial part of the year, it was not what was expected but from what we have been recording in the last 2 months, I am very optimistic that we will be able to get there”.“I keep telling some of my subordinates, who want to be discouraged, that it is not over until it is over. I believe it is achievable. What we need is the willpower and the willpower is there. I know that by the end of the year, we will have cause to celebrate.“My counsel to sister agencies is that they stick to their standard operating procedures, and I want to put on record that other security agencies have been cooperating with us.“The issue is just with these non-governmental organizations, and we will continue to tell them let’s play the game by the rules. Whether you are an agent or licensed chandler, there is a condition for your license. The condition for every operator is spelt out. If we all play according to the rules of the game, there will be less friction, and we will be able to achieve a secured port environment.“I keep telling people that, we are working because the port is secured .The onus is not only on any of us, but all of us. We should all be able to do what we need to do to secure the port. An agent can discover that some of their counterparts are doing things that can undermine the security of the port. They should let us know so that we will address it right from the beginning before it causes a problem to everyone,” the CAC said.Comptroller Jaiyeoba no doubt will achieve whatever he is out to achieve. It could be noted that the Customs Area Controller while taking over from his predecessor, ACG Mohammed, said he is aware that his assignment is not easy but expressed high optimism to surpass targets and beat expectations. Despite the beautiful records of the highest daily collection record of N10bn which was achieved on August 3, 2023 and later broken by Comptroller Jaiyeoba on assumption of duties on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, the previous months and daily revenue were not very impressive.Prior to the official handing over, ACG Auwal Baba Mohammed the former Customs Area Controller of the command before his elevation to an Assistant Comptroller General hinted that the Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service collected N676b as revenue for the Federal Government between January and August 2023.In his acceptance speech, he hinted that he came ready for the uneasy task of collecting all revenue due to the government and promote a culture of compliance at the nation’s premier port of Apapa.It was on this note that he beckon on his officers and men to work hard to achieve the federal government mandate placed on them. Comptroller Jaiyeoba, who until recently was in charge of Oyo/Osun Command, solicited the cooperation of officers and port users to sustain the impressive revenue records achieved by ACG Mohammed while he served as Area Controller before his recent elevation to Assistant Comptroller General Technical Services at Customs Headquarters.The achievements of Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba at Oyo/Osun will definitely be replicated at Apapa command.
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