The Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and its Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, have been celebrated for their exceptional performance at the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Award Night held on November 29, 2024, in Abuja. The command received three prestigious awards, including recognition as the best in revenue collection, anti-smuggling, and trade facilitation.

Comptroller Olomu was named Best Controller of the Year for his outstanding leadership, which significantly enhanced the command’s capacity to deliver on its mandates. Under his stewardship, the command achieved an unprecedented milestone, generating ₦2 trillion in revenue as of November 20, 2024. This marked the highest revenue ever collected in the history of the command, accomplished even amid challenges such as low trade volumes.

The Apapa Command’s achievements are credited to a culture of daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly evaluations of activities, ensuring timely processing of entries, diligent cargo examinations, and strict adherence to duty without compromise. Receiving the awards, Comptroller Olomu attributed the success to the teamwork, dedication, and cooperation of the officers and men of the command. He expressed gratitude to Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his inspirational leadership and the honor bestowed on the command.

Comptroller Olomu described the recognition as a motivation for greater commitment and a challenge to sustain and improve performance. He urged stakeholders, including importers and exporters, to continue complying with trade regulations and take advantage of modernized procedures introduced by the CGC to facilitate seamless trade at Apapa Port. He also commended exporters pioneering activities under the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and called on more Nigerian businesses to utilize the port for their trade operations.

The Area Controller reminded his officers that the awards are not an endpoint but a catalyst for harder work. He emphasized that compliance benefits all parties by saving time and costs, enhancing integrity, and opening doors to recognition, such as achieving Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status.

As 2024 draws to a close, the Apapa Port Command remains committed to maintaining its exemplary performance, further boosting revenue generation, and supporting Nigeria’s economic growth through efficient and innovative practices.