The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, has set a new national record by generating N304 billion in revenue for October 2025 the highest monthly collection ever recorded by any customs command in the history of the Service.

The figure, announced by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Tunde Ayagbalo, represents a sharp increase from the N264 billion collected in the same month last year. With this milestone, Apapa Command has now amassed N2.4 trillion in revenue within the first ten months of 2025 surpassing its entire 2024 collection two months ahead of schedule.

Apapa Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, attributed the success to the dedication of officers, improved compliance by stakeholders, and the adoption of technology-driven customs operations.

“This latest revenue feat is only the beginning of more exploits under my watch,” Oshoba said. “It’s an initial proof of our readiness to process a higher volume of trade, translating to greater returns for the Federal Government.”

He revealed that the Command is preparing to introduce a new “drive-through scanning” system capable of processing up to 150 containers per hour directly from the quayside a development he described as “revolutionary in the annals of West African port operations.”

According to Oshoba, the system will drastically cut clearance time, reduce port congestion, and enhance transparency, thereby boosting investor confidence in Nigeria’s maritime trade environment.

He also disclosed that recently promoted Deputy and Assistant Comptrollers had undergone in-house training to strengthen their leadership and technical capacity, in line with the directives of Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

“I commend my officers and our compliant stakeholders for this milestone, but it’s not our final destination,” Oshoba said. “We are deploying all tools of trade facilitation, including the One-Stop-Shop system to harmonise procedures, save time, and prevent revenue leakages.”

He added that officers remain on high alert to detect importers attempting to misapply Harmonised System Codes to evade duties.

To further enhance operations, Oshoba said he has embarked on unannounced visits to the port access roads to engage directly with truckers, freight forwarders, and licensed customs agents.

“I urged operators to work with the Nigerian Ports Authority to ensure quick evacuation of cleared consignments,” he said. “When cargoes linger at the port, new ones get delayed this slows trade and affects our revenue.”

The Apapa Area Command located at Nigeria’s busiest seaport plays a pivotal role in national revenue generation, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling enforcement.

Under Oshoba’s leadership, the command has not only maintained its top performance but has also deepened its commitment to accountability and innovation. In September 2025, The PUNCH reported that the command intercepted 75 contraband items within 15 months and generated N3.7 trillion in revenue during the same period.

Comptroller-General Adeniyi has repeatedly emphasised automation, transparency, and stakeholder collaboration as core pillars of customs modernisation. Apapa’s latest feat aligns squarely with that vision.

“Our story at Apapa is one of transformation,” Oshoba concluded. “We are proving that Customs can be a model of efficiency, accountability, and partnership. This N304 billion record is not just a number it’s a promise of better things to come.”