The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has announced that it generated a total of ₦1,378,059,019,245.20 between January and June 2025.
This, it said, represents a 35 per cent increase over the ₦1.023 trillion collected in the same period of 2024, a difference of ₦354 billion.
Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Babatunde Olomu gave the hint on Thursday in Lagos during the command’s mid-year press conference.
He stated: “Our revenue collection trajectory points to the possibility of achieving or surpassing our annual target by the end of 2025.
“We must attribute this collection to our diligent officers and compliant traders. On my watch and under the direction of the CGC, Adewale Adeniyi, we have always insisted on maximum collection of government revenue by preventing leakages and applying Demand Notices (DN) where and when necessary.”
Olomu added that the command also sealed three bonded terminals over various infractions in its continued crackdown on non-compliant operators.
He explained that one of the terminals has already been charged to court, while investigations are ongoing on the remaining two.
Olomu noted: “As part of its enforcement activities, the command seized 27 containers of prohibited items in the first half of the year, with a duty paid value of ₦9.267 billion.
“Items seized included unregistered pharmaceuticals, used clothing, expired margarine, codeine syrup, wild animal skins, and stolen vehicles.
“We will never compromise the health, well-being and safety of Nigerians on the altar of trade facilitation. Every consignment passing through Apapa Port undergoes diligent checks through scanning and physical examination when necessary.
“Let me use this medium to once again warn perpetrators of illegal acts that Apapa Port Command is manned by eagle-eyed officers activated to detect and seize uncustomed goods with a clear mandate to arrest perpetrators. We have demonstrated our capacity in this regard and we shall continue to do more.”
Olomu also highlighted the successful deployment of B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), which he said has enhanced the speed and reliability of cargo clearance.
He noted that the first Single Goods Declaration (SGD) was issued using the platform on 9 May 2025.
In a bid to decongest the port and ease movement of cargo, the Area Controller stated that the command has commenced talks with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and other stakeholders to establish a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for rail-based cargo evacuation.