Records N1,094 trillion Revenue

The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted illicit drugs and other smuggled items with a Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N3.2billion.

Compt. Babatunde Olomu Addressing the media

Addressing newsmen on the seizures made, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, CAC, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu declared that the Command is unrelenting and ever vigilant on its responsibilities.

“This command is not sacrificing compliance on the altar of trade facilitation. On my watch and with the inspiring guidance of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, who was in the command two weeks ago to showcase 12 containers of seized pharmaceuticals; our painstaking efforts has led to the uncovering of 6  more  containers  laden  with  prohibited  items  mostly  unregistered pharmaceuticals”

The Apapa CAC listed other  items in the seized containers as cosmetics, used clothing and two vehicles illegally imported into the country. These seizures are worth a total DPV:N3,247,427,969.00(Three     billion,Two hundred  and  forty-seven  million,Four  hundred  and  twenty-seven thousand Nine hundred and sixty-nine naira)

Comptroller Olomu gave a further breakdown of the seizures into three categories:

Category  1

> Container No.SUDU 8685733(40FT)was found to contain 1,698  of  RTPL  CSC  Cough  syrup  with  codeine  concealed   in  202 packages of water closet.

>Container No. MRSU 4846204(40FT)was found to contain 1,690 cartons of codeine syrup concealed in toilet seat.The two seizures have a street value of N2,710,400,000.00(Two billion,seven hundred and ten million,four hundred thousand naira only).

“Interestingly, these   two   containers   were    intercepted   as    a   result    of international collaboration as well as local networking with officers and men of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)” Olomu said

Category  2

Container  No.ONEU  1153150(40  FT) found to contain 1,584 packages  of  Globatin   anti-marks   &30g   Clobetasol   cream   falsely declared as TRUCK TYRES.

> Container   No. MRSU   3258823(40   FT)   was found to contain Rabeprazole,for injection, 25mg Zahifranil tablets, 1000mg vancomycine hydrochloride, ciprophetadine    with    vitamin    B     complex,and    other  pharmaceutical  products  without   NAFDAC   registration   number, falsely declared as kitchen wares and tables.

some of the seizures

Category  3

Container  No.MRKU 0904594(40  FT) was found to contain two stolen vehicles from Canada.A 2024 model Lexus RX 450 vehicle with chasis number JTJCJNGA6R2017707 and another 2023 Lexus RX 350 with chasis number 2T2BAMCAPCO32741 falsely  declared  as food  items.

While container No. SEKU 4716830 (40 FT) was found to contain 390  bales  of  used  clothing  which contravenes the  import prohibition law.

“While we facilitate trade, collect revenue for government, the NCS owe the Nigerian people the duty of protecting them from dangerous imports that are injurious to their health and wellbeing”

As   officers   at   the   nation’s   largest, busiest   and   premier   port, we   are determined to avoid making Nigerians vulnerable to the selfish interests of merchant of death whose stock in trade is to bring in harmful substances. We also intercepted two cars stolen from Canada that was attempted to be smuggled into Nigeria.

In  addition to  contravening  the  Nigeria  Customs  Service  Act  2023, these imported containers with  prohibited  medical  items  also violate the World Customs Organization’s Operation Stop IV – which is a global enforcement operation  against  trafficking  of  counterfeit, substandard  and  unauthorized medical supplies.

ARRESTS

Controller Olomu disclosed that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures and are at various stages of interrogation to face the full wrath of the law.

Revenue Profile

Speaking on revenue efforts at the Apapa Command, the CAC disclosed that having crossed the one trillion- naira collection before the end of the fifth month, the Command has so far generated a total of #1,094 trillion as at 21 May 2025.

“This collection confirms our trajectory and laudable antecedent of meeting and surpassing our target.Like we’ve done before,we are ready to do better this year”

“Our chronicle of outstanding revenue collection speaks boldly for us and attests  to  our  capacity  to  do   more. For   instance, in  October  2024, we collected  #18.2   billion; on  March   14, 2025, we  recorded  a  feat   of  #18.9 billion and on 20 May, 2025, we made another record-breaking collection of #18.919 billion.  All these were groundbreaking daily collections” Comptroller Olomu said

The CAC warned port users that the Apapa Port will remain a no-go area  for  any  unlawful  activity  as officers  are  very  much  ready  to uncover concealments and effect seizures and make arrest where necessary.