…Comptroller Oshoba Says “It’s the Beginning of Greater Revenue Exploits”
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded an unprecedented revenue collection of ₦304 billion for the month of October 2025, the highest ever achieved by any Customs Command in the history of the Service.
This milestone, announced in a press statement signed by Superintendent of Customs (SC) JT Ayagbalo, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, surpasses the previous record of ₦264 billion collected in October 2024. The latest figure brings the Command’s total revenue for the first ten months of 2025 to ₦2.4 trillion (₦2,402,141,493,747.06), exceeding its total collection for the entire year of 2024, with two months still left in the fiscal year.
Speaking on the remarkable achievement, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, described the feat as “the beginning of greater revenue exploits”, emphasizing that the Command is now better positioned to handle higher trade volumes efficiently.
“This is only the start. The Command is fully prepared for a new era of trade processing and facilitation,” Oshoba stated. “We are moving toward a regime of Drive-Through Scanning capable of processing up to 150 containers per hour directly from the quayside, a revolutionary milestone in West African port operations.”
He attributed the success to the dedication of his officers, the cooperation of stakeholders, and the leadership direction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, under whose administration trade facilitation and transparency have been prioritized.
Comptroller Oshoba further explained that the Command has embarked on rigorous in-house training for newly promoted Deputy and Assistant Comptrollers to enhance operational effectiveness.
He reaffirmed the Command’s zero-tolerance stance on revenue leakages, noting that officers remain vigilant in detecting underpayments and the misuse of Harmonised System (HS) codes to evade duty.
“While deploying every tool of trade facilitation as directed by the CGC, including the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) initiative designed to harmonize Customs procedures and enhance efficiency, we also ensure every legitimate kobo due to the Federal Government is collected,” he said.
“We will continue to issue Demand Notices (DNs) where necessary to recover shortfalls, and we will not compromise on integrity or accountability.”
As part of efforts to sustain seamless operations at the Apapa Port, Comptroller Oshoba revealed that he has embarked on several unscheduled visits to port access roads to engage truckers, freight forwarders, and licensed Customs agents.
“I personally met with stakeholders and urged them to cooperate with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) by prioritizing the evacuation of cleared consignments. If cleared goods are not promptly moved out, new consignments awaiting examination or scanning get delayed, affecting trade flow and, ultimately, our revenue performance,” Oshoba explained.
He also disclosed ongoing collaboration with the Apapa Port Manager to strengthen operational synergy aimed at sustaining efficiency in cargo handling, clearance, and port decongestion.
Reiterating his vision for the Command, Oshoba said the October record is a motivation to strive for even higher performance.
“I commend my officers and our compliant stakeholders for this milestone. However, this is not our final destination. With continued teamwork, discipline, and innovation, Apapa Command will keep setting the pace for Customs operations nationwide,” he affirmed.