The Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted smuggled items, including unregistered pharmaceuticals, used clothing, expired margarine, wild animals’ skin, and codeine syrup worth ₦9,267,443,966.00.
The intercepted items consist of 9 containers, which form part of the 27 containers seized between January and June 2025.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this during the Command’s mid-year press briefing on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
“Let me start this speech by first acknowledging your invaluable contributions to our success since l assumed office about a year ago as Customs Area Controller of the nation’s premier port command. Your support is not unnoticed. We appreciate it.
“The first half of 2025 has been very eventful and engaging, featuring our drive for revenue collection, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling. Our enhanced stakeholder engagement, deployment of ICT, port user compliance and uncompromising disposition of our officers and men culminated into better achievements for us, in line with the CGC’s policy thrust,” Comptroller Olomu stated.
He noted that the Command achieved a total collection of ₦1,378,059,019,245.20 which represents 35% increase above ₦1,023,663,842,255.63 that was collected in the same period of 2024, marking ₦354 billion increase in collection within the period under review.
Olomu attributed the achievement to the Command’s diligent officers and compliant traders, emphasising that his leadership and the direction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, have always been on maximum collection of government revenue by preventing leakages and applying demand notices (DN) where and when necessary.
The Comptroller said that the Command’s revenue collection trajectory points to the possibility of achieving or surpassing its annual target by the end of 2025, urging officers and men to brace up and redouble their efforts to make surpassing target a reality.
On trade facilitation, he affirmed that the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) also known as B’Odogwu has gone live in the Apapa Command with laudable milestones.
He stressed: “In addition to the issuance of the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) being issued using the homegrown technology, we have achieved issuance of the first Single Goods Declaration on the 9th of May 2025 using the B’Odogwu platform. For us, this marks a significant shift towards faster, more reliable cargo handling.
“We have created a robust platform that facilitates trade and ensures the swift clearance of cargo. We are 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 talks 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.
“I am pleased to express that the talks have shown prospects for success with pledges of support and anticipation for robust participation by all concerned. This effort to revive cargo movement by rail aims to decongest the port, reduce pressure on the Apapa roads and provide a viable and cost-effective option of cargo movement to our importers, exporters, freight forwarding practitioners, haulage operators and licensed customs agents.”
Speaking on the anti-smuggling activities, Olomu stated: “Today, we are showcasing nine (9) containers comprising of unregistered pharmaceuticals, used clothing, expired margarine, wild animals’ skin, and codeine syrup seized by the command just a couple of days ago, which form part of the twenty-seven (27) containers seized between January-June 2025 with a duty paid value (DPV) of Nine billion, two sixty-seven million, four hundred and forty-three thousand, nine hundred and sixty-six naira (₦9,267,443,966.00).
“These 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, safety of Nigerians on the altar of trade facilitation. Every consignment passing through our port undergo diligent check through scanning and physical examination when required.”
The Comptroller revealed that unregistered pharmaceuticals is most prominent on the list of the 28 seizures made by the command during the period under review.
“The seizures comprise of 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), of which Nigeria is a signatory. 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 an investigation is still ongoing on the remaining two terminals,” he further noted.
Olomu warned perpetrators of illegal acts that Apapa Port Command is manned by eagle-eyed officers who are vigilant in detecting and seizing uncleared goods, with a clear mandate to arrest offenders.
“We have demonstrated our capacity in this regard and we shall continue to do more,” he said, acknowledging and commending other sister government agencies for their support.
He added: “We have always enjoyed their robust intelligence sharing and joint consultations towards national security. Our togetherness has always stood as great blows to criminals and their activities. We shall continue strengthening the bond.”
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