Comptroller Emmanuel Oluwadare Oshoba, the Area Controller of Apapa Customs Command, has credited his previous role as Controller of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) at the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters in Abuja for easing his transition into his current position.
In an interview with JournalNG’s Ismael Aniemu, Oshoba explained that his CIU role gave him a broad, nationwide understanding of customs operations—spanning revenue, enforcement, and excise. “I received daily reports from Apapa even while in CIU,” he noted, adding that this exposure gave him deep insight into the command’s activities.
Oshoba emphasized that knowing key officers at Apapa—such as DC Revenue, DC CIU, DC Compliance, and Assistant Comptroller Usman—made it easier to settle in. “I’ve worked with most of them over time, including DC Valuation, Abdullahi,” he said. This familiarity, he explained, helped with the team and hit the ground running.
His prior roles in Risk Management, Special Duties, and CIU also meant he had long-standing relationships with many stakeholders. “These are people I’ve interacted with for years,” he said. This, he said, made stakeholder engagement seamless.
Upon assuming office, Oshoba prioritized outreach—meeting with traditional rulers like the Oba of Lagos and the Ojora of Ijora, as well as engaging with the maritime police, NAGAFF, ANCLA, and freight forwarders. “Collaboration is key,” he stressed.
On revenue performance, Oshoba credited his predecessors for laying a solid foundation. “I only needed to fine-tune a few things,” he said, while also acknowledging the enabling environment created by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s trade facilitation agenda.
He described himself as someone committed to helping importers and port users move goods efficiently as hesimply keyed into the positive momentum he met.
Oshoba highlighted recent innovations under the CGC’s mandate, including: Advance Ruling which is a legally binding tool that allows traders to seek customs clarification before importation; Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), a scheme designed to reward compliant traders with faster processing and trade facilitation.
He also announced the imminent deployment of high-capacity scanning machines at Apapa Port, capable of processing 150–200 containers per hour. “This will transform operations,” he said, urging traders to align with the AEO scheme to maximize benefits.
Reaffirming the CGC’s three-point mandate, Oshoba stressed the importance of stakeholder synergy in modern customs operations. He echoed President Tinubu’s vision for tax reform and increased trade volume, noting that higher revenue supports national infrastructure and development.