By Okey IROEGBU
Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, the new Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, has charged newly promoted officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to redouble their efforts in revenue generation and enforcement of trade compliance, describing their elevation as both a recognition of past performance and a call to greater responsibility. In a
report sent to this media through the PRO of the command, SC John Tunde Ayagbalo said while addressing the officers in
Lagos, the CAC noted that the promotion exercise was anchored on excellence, innovation, and dedication to service. He stressed that the Command, being the nation’s premier port, relies heavily on the competence and integrity of its personnel to drive revenue growth, facilitate legitimate trade, and safeguard national security.1 “Your promotion is not the end of the journey but the beginning of greater expectations,” Oshoba declared. “You are expected to justify the confidence reposed in you by making measurable contributions to revenue generation, improving compliance levels, and enhancing the Command’s operational efficiency. National economic growth and
security are tied to the work you do here,” he said. He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and the NCS management for sustaining a merit-driven promotion system, as he urged officers who were not promoted to remain steadfast. He assured them that diligence and consistency would earn them recognition in future exercises. Speaking on behalf of the promoted officers, Chief Superintendent of Customs Bello Abdullahi expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NCS management, and the Comptroller-General for finding them worthy of elevation. He described the promotion as a collective achievement, attributing it to teamwork, mentorship from senior officers, and the sacrifices of their families. “This promotion is not for us alone; it is a recognition of the dedication and hard work of every officer and man in the Apapa Command,” he said. Meanwhile, critical stakeholders are still celebating the feat made by the Customs Area Controller less than 24 hours of his resumption to the command. In a stunning display of revenue generation prowess, the command under the new leadership has broken its own record with a staggering ₦20.1 billion collection in a single day. This remarkable feat was achieved on September 9, 2025, just 24 hours after Comptroller Oshoba assumed office as the new Customs Area Controller. For now, the ₦20,156,077,098.56 collection is the highest daily revenue ever recorded by any command in the Nigeria Customs Service using the Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu). This achievement is a testament to the command’s dedication to excellence and Comptroller Oshoba’s leadership. He attributed this success to the collective efforts of his team and stakeholders, saying, “It’s not the time to clap yet because clapping means removing your two hands from work to celebrate.” This record has not only broken the existing ₦18b achieved by the command but has also confirmed the new CAC’s resolve to meet and surpass the revenue target set for the command as stated in his maiden address. “I commend my team and stakeholders for this great milestone of ₦20.1b collection in one day just 24 hours after I resumed here. It’s not the time to clap yet because clapping means removing your two hands from work to celebrate. “Let’s leave the celebration and applause for days ahead when we shall have future achievements of surpassing targets, curbing any attempted smuggling or concealment and treating trade with productive speed without compromising our integrity. I believe in Action, which speaks louder than words “We are all part of history as our collective efforts are resonating positively on the Nigerian economy. I urge my officers to keep the great work going and for the stakeholders, they should stay on the path of compliance ” Comptroller Oshoba said. This write up will not end wihout eulogising ACG Babatunde Olomu, the immediate past Customs Area Controller of the command now elevated. It could be noted that in May
2025, when an ECOWAS delegation toured Apapa, they left with glowing reviews of the Command’s digital transformation. They returned with renewed hope that “with Olomu in charge of Apapa Command, modernisation is not a slogan; it is the backbone of trade facilitation.” ACG Olomu’s story at Apapa was not just about numbers, figures, or digits, though the numbers themselves were staggering. Under his amiable leadership, the Command collected N2.2 trillion in 2024, more than double the previous year’s figure. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, revenues surged to N694.1 billion, representing a 41.8 percent rise year-on-year. By mid-
2025, Apapa Command had raked in N1.367 trillion, proving that his reforms were not a flash in the pan but a sustained culture of excellence. His transparency and integrity motivated his staff with the reminder that “Numbers don’t just appear out of thin air. They are the product of discipline, teamwork, and the belief that Customs can do better than yesterday.” His words have, on many occasions, resonated with officers who recall his leadership style as firm but inspiring—a blend of accountability and encouragement.
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