By Sandra Chukwunyere
Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu has assumed duty as the 33rd Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), pledging to build on the achievements recorded by his predecessor, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba (Rtd).
Mu’azu took over at an assumption-of-office and farewell ceremony held on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the Auditorium of the Apapa Area Command, Apapa, Lagos.
The ceremony was attended by heads of security and regulatory agencies, representatives of government agencies, terminal operators, shipping and business stakeholders, customs brokers and other partners of the Command.
According to a statement signed by CSC Isah Sulaiman, Customs Public Relations Officer, Apapa Area Command, Mu’azu described his appointment as “a great honour and privilege” and expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for the confidence reposed in him.
He said he accepted the responsibility with a strong sense of duty and commitment to the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service and the economic interests of the country.
Mu’azu said his administration would be guided by the three strategic pillars of the Comptroller-General of Customs — consolidation, collaboration and innovation — with emphasis on revenue integrity, efficient trade facilitation, professionalism and stakeholder engagement.
On revenue generation, the new Controller said every revenue due to government must be properly assessed and collected, adding that decisions taken by customs officers must be transparent and capable of standing the test of time.
He also pledged to deepen collaboration with importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, shipping companies, terminal operators, port authorities and other government agencies in a bid to make operations at Apapa Port more efficient and responsive to legitimate trade.
Mu’azu also declared that his administration would not tolerate avoidable delays in cargo processing.
He said unnecessary human delays in cargo clearance, which he described as non-tariff barriers, would not be tolerated, adding that legitimate cargo should be allowed to move once all necessary requirements had been fulfilled.
He further charged officers to maintain discipline, professionalism, courtesy and decorum in their dealings with members of the trading public.
The new CAC acknowledged the significant revenue records achieved by Oshoba during his tenure, particularly the Command’s historic monthly collection of ₦323 billion in July 2026.
He also cited the Command’s single-day collection of ₦28.102 billion recorded on August 18, 2026.
Mu’azu described the figures as a major benchmark for the Command, saying sustaining and surpassing the records would be a significant responsibility for his administration.
“This is indeed a record to reckon with and strive towards matching same. It is therefore a Herculean task upon myself and my team to match and surpass such a record,” he said.
He also commended Oshoba for his contributions to enforcement, trade facilitation and the implementation of key modernisation initiatives of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Among the initiatives he highlighted were B’Odogwu, Advance Ruling, the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, One-Stop Shop and Non-Intrusive Inspection technology.
On Advance Ruling, Oshoba had explained in his farewell address that the initiative gives legitimate traders greater predictability and clarity on Customs treatment before importation, helping to reduce uncertainty and strengthen confidence in the trading environment.
Speaking at the ceremony, Oshoba expressed appreciation to officers, men and stakeholders of the Apapa Area Command for their support throughout his tenure.
He said the achievements recorded during his tenure were the product of collective effort and not the work of one person.
“The achievements recorded during my tenure do not belong to one individual. They belong to all of us,” Oshoba said.
He urged officers to maintain the standards of the Command, stressing that discipline and professionalism should remain central to their operations.
“Discipline must remain our foundation, professionalism our standard and excellence our aspiration,” he said.
Oshoba also called on officers and stakeholders to extend the same support and cooperation to Mu’azu as he begins his tenure.
Responding, Mu’azu stressed that the success of the Apapa Area Command would require the collective efforts of officers and stakeholders.
“The success we seek cannot be achieved by the CAC alone. It requires our collective efforts, operational integrity and willingness to uphold the standards of the Service,” he said.
He assured stakeholders of an open and constructive relationship founded on fairness, mutual respect and the national interest.
Mu’azu expressed confidence that the Apapa Area Command would continue to serve as a model for efficient revenue administration, legitimate trade facilitation and professional conduct within the Nigeria Customs Service.
