Oshoba raises the bar at Apapa Command as record revenues, reforms redefine port efficiency
Maureen Aguta
When Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba assumed leadership of the Apapa Port Command, he walked into a structure already fortified by his predecessor, Assistant Comptroller General Babatunde Olomu, fsi. Yet, rather than being overshadowed by Olomu’s record-setting tenure, Oshoba stepped in with quiet confidence—and immediately stamped his authority on the Command’s performance trajectory.
Within his first 24 hours, Apapa posted a staggering ₦20.1 billion in single-day revenue, the highest ever recorded in the history of the Nigeria Customs Service. It was an early signal that the new helmsman was not merely preserving inherited gains but intent on pushing boundaries and redefining what the nation’s busiest port command could deliver.
Oshoba’s leadership has so far been marked by administrative discipline, operational precision, and strengthened stakeholder relationships—all geared towards unlocking Apapa’s vast revenue potential. His approach places transparency and accountability at the center of operations, ensuring faster, cleaner documentation and clearance processes. He has also made capacity building a priority, promoting continuous training and retraining of officers to align with global customs standards.
In line with the Comptroller General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi’s push for technology-driven operations, Oshoba has expanded the deployment of digital tools to cut bottlenecks, improve compliance monitoring, and enhance overall efficiency. The result is a system moving steadily toward modernization and data-guided decision-making.
Early indicators suggest that these reforms are taking hold. In October 2025 alone, the Command generated a landmark ₦304 billion—the highest monthly revenue ever posted by any Customs formation in the country. The milestone underscores not only effective revenue management but smoother cargo throughput, as operational tweaks have significantly reduced cargo delays.
Trade facilitation under Oshoba has also undergone recalibration. He has managed a delicate balance between facilitation and enforcement, providing importers and exporters with a more predictable and business-friendly environment without compromising compliance. This has contributed to shorter cargo dwell times and enhanced Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global shipping space.
Crucially, Oshoba’s stakeholder engagement strategy is proving central to Apapa’s renewed momentum. He has strengthened collaboration with shipping companies, terminal operators, freight forwarders, and sister agencies, improving intelligence sharing, joint operations, and port logistics cohesion. His openness to public-private partnerships is helping modernize port infrastructure and streamline logistics operations.
This collaborative instinct was visible when gridlock resurfaced along the Apapa corridor. Oshoba intervened swiftly, aligning Customs processes with broader port logistics adjustments to ensure cargo clearance did not grind to a halt. The intervention helped prevent clearance bottlenecks, restoring confidence among port users.
“We are building on what we met, but with a renewed commitment to transparency, efficiency, and collaboration,” Oshoba told stakeholders recently—a statement that mirrors both his ethos and the Command’s current trajectory.
Industry observers say the area controller has infused fresh momentum into Apapa’s traditional structures, demonstrating a firm grasp of operations and a commitment to performance-driven leadership. The outcomes—stronger compliance, smoother cargo movement, increased stakeholder trust, and record-breaking revenues—suggest that Apapa is consolidating its status as the country’s customs powerhouse.
As Nigeria intensifies efforts to grow non-oil revenues, Oshoba’s strategic stewardship of the Apapa Command is emerging as a critical pillar. If sustained, analysts argue, the reforms will not only deepen trade competitiveness but also entrench Apapa’s position as the nation’s leading customs port—one now setting new standards in transparency, innovation, and operational excellence.