In a determined push to reinforce Nigeria’s trade integrity, the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has impounded 27 containers of contraband goods between January and June 2025, with an estimated duty-paid value of ₦9.27 billion. The seizures range from unregistered pharmaceuticals and expired food products to stolen vehicles, codeine syrup, second-hand clothing, and prohibited wildlife parts—violating the CITES treaty.
Additionally, three bonded terminals were sealed for multiple infractions. One terminal is currently under prosecution, underscoring the Command’s zero-tolerance approach.
Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, PhD, who heads the Apapa Command, revealed these developments during a media briefing at the Command’s headquarters in Lagos. He also celebrated an impressive ₦1.378 trillion revenue generated in the first half of 2025—marking a 35% leap from the previous year.
He attributed the success to a mix of:
– Rigorous revenue collection strategies
– Enhanced trader compliance
– Deployment of demand notices to seal fiscal leakages
– Leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR
The Command also made history with the first implementation of the Single Goods Declaration (SGD) via the newly launched B’Odogwu digital platform, designed to optimize cargo clearance and ease congestion.
Looking ahead, the Command is working closely with the Nigerian Railway Corporation and industry stakeholders to resuscitate rail cargo transport from Apapa Port—aimed at reducing road traffic and cutting logistics costs.
Comptroller Olomu emphasized the power of inter-agency intelligence sharing, describing it as essential to dismantling criminal trade networks.