Apapa Customs breaks record with ₦2.4trn revenue in 10 Months — Surpasses 2024 full-year collection
By Maureen Aguta
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has set a new revenue benchmark, collecting an unprecedented ₦2.4 trillion between January and October 2025 — a figure that not only outstrips the Command’s total for the entire year of 2024 but also cements its position as the nation’s leading revenue-generating port.
According to a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs Tunde Ayagbalo, the revenue figure — ₦2,400,945,715,872— marks a sharp rise over the ₦264 billion recorded in October 2024 alone.
Speaking on the feat, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, attributed the achievement to enhanced operational efficiency, a strengthened workforce, and ongoing modernization reforms driven by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
“This milestone underscores the Command’s improved capacity to process higher trade volumes while aligning with the Service’s dual mandate of revenue generation and trade facilitation,” Oshoba said.
Scanning Revolution Set to Redefine Port Operations
Oshoba disclosed that the Command is fully set to roll out a Drive-Through Scanning regime, capable of processing up to 150 containers per hour directly from the quayside— a development he described as “revolutionary in the history of port operations across West Africa.”
He explained that the new technology will drastically reduce cargo clearance time, improve trade predictability, and enhance transparency in port operations. To ensure smooth implementation, officers and men of the Command have undergone specialised in-house training sessions, especially following the promotion of new Deputy and Assistant Comptrollers.
Reforms, Collaboration Power Growth
Highlighting ongoing reforms, Oshoba said the Command continues to deploy the One-Stop-Shop (OSS), which harmonizes customs procedures to streamline cargo clearance. He noted that while Apapa Command remains committed to facilitating legitimate trade, it maintains zero tolerance for infractions through the issuance of Demand Notices (DN) and rigorous monitoring of Harmonised System (HS) Code to prevent duty evasion and revenue leakages.
In a bid to strengthen coordination across the logistics chain, Oshoba said he has been conducting unannounced visits to sections of the Apapa Port access roads to engage truckers, freight forwarders and licenses customs agents. The initiative, he said, aims to promote synergy with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for quicker evacuation of cleared consignments and improved cargo flow.
Commitment to Sustain Performance
Reaffirming his resolve to sustain the Command’s revenue momentum, Comptroller Oshoba called for deeper collaboration among all port stakeholders.
“Our record-breaking performance is a product of teamwork and stakeholder cooperation. We must maintain this synergy to consolidate Apapa’s leadership in trade facilitation and national revenue generation,” he stated.
With two months still left in the fiscal year, industry observers say the Apapa Command’s performance reflects the impact of Customs modernization initiatives and a renewed drive for operational excellence under the current administration.