…pledges tougher revenue integrity, faster cargo clearance
…Apapa recorded N323bn monthly collection in July, N28.1bn single-day haul in August
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has welcomed Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu as its 33rd Customs Area Controller (CAC), with the new Controller pledging to sustain the Command’s revenue growth, strengthen trade facilitation and eliminate avoidable delays in cargo clearance.
Mu’azu formally assumed duty on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, during an assumption-of-office and farewell ceremony held at the Command’s auditorium in Apapa, Lagos.
The ceremony was attended by heads of security and regulatory agencies, government officials, terminal operators, shipping and business stakeholders, customs brokers and other partners of the Command.
In his inaugural address, Mu’azu described his appointment as a “great honour and privilege”, expressing appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for the confidence reposed in him.
He said his administration would align its operations with the three strategic pillars of the Comptroller-General — consolidation, collaboration and innovation — with emphasis on revenue integrity, trade facilitation, professionalism and stakeholder engagement.
“Every revenue due to government must be properly assessed and collected, and every decision taken by our officers must be capable of standing the test of scrutiny over time,” Mu’azu said.
He also pledged to deepen collaboration with importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, shipping companies, terminal operators, port authorities and other government agencies to improve the efficiency of the Apapa port.
The new Controller warned against avoidable delays in cargo processing, declaring that unnecessary human-induced bottlenecks would no longer be tolerated.
“Unnecessary human delays in cargo processing otherwise known as Non-Tariff Barriers shall not be tolerated henceforth,” he said.
According to him, legitimate cargo that has met all regulatory requirements should be allowed to move without avoidable obstruction.
He also directed officers to maintain discipline, professionalism, courtesy and decorum in their dealings with traders and other stakeholders.
Mu’azu acknowledged the strong revenue performance recorded by his predecessor, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba (Rtd), particularly the Command’s record collections.
Under Oshoba, Apapa Customs achieved a monthly revenue collection of N323 billion in July 2026, while a single-day collection of N28.102 billion was recorded on August 18, 2026.
Mu’azu described the figures as a significant benchmark for his administration.
“This is indeed a record to reckon with and strive towards matching same. It is therefore a Herculean task upon myself and my team to match and surpass such a record,” he said.
He also commended Oshoba for his contributions to enforcement, trade facilitation and the implementation of Customs modernisation initiatives.
These include the B’Odogwu digital platform, Advance Ruling, the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, One-Stop Shop and Non-Intrusive Inspection technology.
In his farewell address, Oshoba thanked officers, men and stakeholders of the Apapa Area Command for their support during his tenure.
He attributed the achievements recorded under his leadership to collective effort rather than individual performance.
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“The achievements recorded during my tenure do not belong to one individual. They belong to all of us,” Oshoba said.
He urged officers to sustain the standards established by the Command, stressing that discipline, professionalism and excellence must remain central to its operations.
“Discipline must remain our foundation, professionalism our standard and excellence our aspiration,” he said.
Oshoba also urged officers and stakeholders to extend the same cooperation to his successor.
The outgoing Controller highlighted the importance of the Advance Ruling initiative, which provides traders with greater clarity on Customs treatment before goods are imported.
He said the initiative would improve predictability, reduce uncertainty and strengthen confidence in the trading environment.
Mu’azu pledged to build on these reforms while ensuring that revenue collection does not undermine legitimate trade.
He said the Command would maintain an open and constructive relationship with stakeholders based on fairness, mutual respect and the national interest.
The new CAC stressed that the responsibility for sustaining Apapa’s performance would not rest on his office alone.
“The success we seek cannot be achieved by the CAC alone. It requires our collective efforts, operational integrity and willingness to uphold the standards of the Service,” he said.
Mu’azu expressed confidence that Apapa Area Command would continue to serve as a model for revenue administration, legitimate trade facilitation and professional conduct.
Credit :Businesspointer
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