Apapa Customs Command Sweeps Three Awards for Excellence and Revenue Collection

By Lod Onyeji 

In a resounding recognition of its outstanding achievements, the Apapa Port Command of Nigeria Customs Service has been honored with three prestigious awards at the Comptroller General of Customs Award Night held on November 29, 2024, in Abuja.

Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, the Customs Area Controller, emerged as the "Best Controller of the Year" for his exceptional leadership in improving the command's capacity to deliver on its mandates at Nigeria's premier port of Apapa.

The three awards, presented by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, recognized the command's groundbreaking achievements in revenue collection, anti-smuggling, and trade facilitation. Notably, the command generated N2 trillion in revenue as of November 20, 2024, a first in its history.

Under Comptroller Olomu's leadership, the command has implemented a hands-on approach to evaluating its activities, ensuring that all officers resume early, process entries timely, and carry out diligent examinations.

Comptroller Olomu dedicated the honor to all officers and men of the command, attributing the achievements to teamwork, dedication, focus, and cooperation. He emphasized that no leader can excel without supportive lieutenants and called for continuous support from all stakeholders.

The Apapa Customs Command has consistently demonstrated its commitment to excellence, with previous records showing that it surpassed its 2023 revenue with a record-breaking N1.875 trillion collection in 2024. The command has also facilitated its first shipment to Kenya under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, marking a milestone for Nigeria's participation in intra-African trade.