The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced that it generated a staggering ₦3.7 trillion in revenue over a 15-month period while intercepting 75 contraband shipments, including arms, banned drugs, and other illicit items.
The figure was disclosed in an official document released on Friday highlighting the achievements of Babatunde Olomu, who served as Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Apapa Command until his recent promotion as an Assistant Comptroller General (ACG).
Revenue Growth and Consistency
According to the report, Olomu, who assumed office on May 5, 2024, oversaw a steady rise in monthly collections. Revenue moved from ₦175.1 billion in May 2024 to over ₦200 billion by July of the same year, before peaking at ₦269.3 billion in January 2025.
Although minor fluctuations occurred in subsequent months, the command consistently surpassed the ₦200 billion threshold, ultimately contributing to a cumulative ₦3.7 trillion within 15 months.
Contraband Seizures
In the same period, the command recorded 75 major interceptions involving assorted rifles, ammunition, expired pharmaceuticals, fake drugs, codeine-based products, tramadol, used clothing, wildlife skins, and stolen vehicles.
Other high-risk seizures included restricted security gadgets such as drones, telecommunication equipment, and transceivers. Notably, 60 units of warrior drones without valid End-User Certificates and 53 helicopter drones concealed in a container marked CFAX3 were recovered. The duty-paid value of some of the confiscated items was estimated at over ₦2.1 million.
The seizures comprised 62 containers of 40ft capacity and 13 containers of 20ft capacity, reflecting what officials described as a major disruption of illicit trade networks attempting to use Apapa Port as a gateway.
National Security Concerns
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, commended Olomu’s leadership, stressing that the interception of dangerous cargoes prevented serious threats to national security.
“The Apapa Command handles the highest volume of trade for NCS, collects the highest revenue, and therefore carries a higher burden of expectation from both the management and the government,” Adeniyi said.
He further warned importers and port users against unlawful practices, urging them to embrace legitimate trade.
“NCS, under my leadership, is fully committed to its responsibilities in detecting all forms of concealment,” Adeniyi assured.
Background
Olomu’s record at the Apapa Command earned him recognition at the NCS Board’s 63rd regular meeting earlier in the week, where his promotion to the rank of ACG was confirmed alongside 11 other officers.
His tenure was also marked by high-profile seizures, including 11 containers of unregistered sex drugs and expired food items worth ₦921 billion intercepted between January and May 2024, as well as 16 containers of arms and expired pharmaceuticals seized in August.
The Apapa Command, being Nigeria’s busiest maritime trade hub, continues to play a pivotal role in revenue generation and enforcement for the Customs Service.
