L-R, The incoming Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu & the Outgoing Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba at the Command.
Officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, as well as stakeholders within the environs, have extolled the Customs Area Controller Apapa Command, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba, as he takes a bow after 35 years of dedicated service and handed over the mantle of leadership to Comptroller Babatunde Olomu.
The handover was held at the Command on Monday, May 6 2024.
While handling over, the outgoing Customs Area Controller ( CAC) Comptroller Jaiyeoba who resumed duty at Apapa Customs Area Command on September 12, 2023, appreciated God for a successful 35 years of meritorious service.
In his words, “I give all glory, all honour to God, Almighty. And I also thank the Officers and Men of Apapa Command and our stakeholders for your cooperation. We came, we told you our agenda, and you keyed into it, and together, we delivered”. He said.
“I can boldly say since January till now, there has been an increase in revenue collection. We set a target for ourselves, beat it, and reset another target, which, before we know it, we have also beaten it.
He further explained some achievements in 2024, saying that “Between January and April 2024, the Apapa Command of NCS collected a total of N672,172,624,033.03 as revenue for the federal government.
We have set the ball rolling for the actualization of our target and the officers I am leaving behind are focused on this. My optimism is not misplaced because we have all proven to be tested and trusted.
“It is noteworthy, to explain that in the month of April 2024 alone, the command generated N182 billion which is a record-breaking monthly collection in the history of the service. On February 23, 2024, we recorded revenue collection milestone by generating N16,021,660,412.00.
This daily collection strengthened our cumulative figure. These are laudable developments coming at a time the port is not enjoying its full import trade potentials owing to so many factors,”
Because of the cooperation, because of the commitment and because of the will, all of us have to deliver. And I must say I thank all of us for that”.
The CAC further urged Officers and stakeholders to extend the same cooperation to the incoming Customs Area Controller.
“We have set a standard in Apapa Command, and with or without Comptroller Jaiyeoba, we must maintain that standard. I want to plead with us that whoever is coming to take over, the same cooperation you extended to me, I want us to give the same or more than that cooperation so that together, you can deliver”. Comptroller Jaiyeoba concluded.
In his remarks, the incoming Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu has promised to ensure full implementation of all provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the Common External Tariff (CET), import and export prohibition guidelines, and other books of instructions.
Comptroller Olomu also said that his administration would exhibit zero tolerance for smuggling of prohibited items, concealment, and declaration for duty evasion, noting that he saw has appointment as a serious task from the Comptroller General of Customs to deliver
He said, “I see my task as CAC Apapa command as a serious assignment from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR dsm psc (+) of which our only option is to deliver diligently not only in revenue collection, fight against smuggling, but in trade facilitation and sustainable stakeholder engagement.
“My assumption of this office is with a mind of confidence that we won’t betray the trust reposed in us by the FGN, CGC and the entire management of the Nigeria Customs Service.
This confidence is premised on the reality that I am taking over a very organized command, where I intend to build on the successes of my predecessor. “Let me state unequivocally that we shall implement all the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the Common External Tariff, import and export prohibition guidelines, and other books of instruction as directed.
“While promoting a robust customs community relation system where there will be regular interface with all government and private sector stakeholders, I shall upscale our enforcement with intelligence to ensure that only legitimate trade is allowed in Apapa Port and all the terminals within the Command.
“Our tolerance level for smuggling of prohibited items, concealment, and declaration for duty evasion shall be zero and shall remain so.
“Our country holds a strategic position for trade in West and Central Africa and Apapa Port is critical in Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). We are rewing Nigeria’s readiness for improved trade with fellow African countries and the world at
He added that the management of the command is committed to evolving a more modern customs with Apapa Port being a nucleus to the implementation of the many trade facilitation reforms championed by the Comptroller-General of Customs. “I want to urge our officers to brace up for the changes that will feature as fallouts of customs modernization, otherwise called e-customs, AEO, and many other groundbreaking World Customs Organization innovations like the recently introduced advanced ruling.
“This will enable them to enjoy more gains of trading across borders in the global supply chain in line with the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC), the WCO Supply Chain Management Guidelines, and the various national best practices. “As a working principle, I hereby advise all our officers to treat all official matters with the speed they deserve leaving no file unattended to as such delays could mean slowing down government revenue inflow.
“I shall emplace a trade dispute resolution seat that will operate every day including weekends to ensure that we make this command a true front liner in global best practices in terms of customs operation for other customs formations to emulate.
“Apapa Command under my leadership won’t be complacent and will be open to continuous engagement with everyone. My doors are open for advice on how best to achieve our mandate because we are all here to add value and do better for Nigeria,” Olomu added
