The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) witnessed a mix of nostalgia, celebration, and reflection on Monday, September 8, 2025, as Dr. B.O. Olomu, fsi, Ph.D, officially handed over the reins after 15 transformative months as the Customs Area Controller (CAC).
Dr. Olomu, who has now been promoted to the rank of Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG), used his farewell speech to recount his tenure’s highlights and the collective effort that defined his leadership. His words struck both a note of gratitude and a challenge for continuity, reminding officers, stakeholders, and the incoming CAC that Apapa’s role as the service’s flagship command is pivotal to Nigeria’s economy.
A Transformative Tenure
When Dr. Olomu assumed duty at the Apapa Command on May 6, 2024, expectations were high. Nigeria’s busiest seaport handles over 60 percent of the country’s non-oil trade, and with increasing global trade complexities, Apapa needed both firm leadership and innovative reforms.
Looking back, Olomu described his tenure as a season of hard work and collective achievement.
“I came with sleeves rolled up, and with the maximum support of my officers, government agencies, private operators, and the media, we confronted challenges head-on and excelled together,” he said.
Historic Revenue Records
Perhaps the most defining hallmark of his time at Apapa was record-breaking revenue mobilization.
- In June 2024, Apapa collected ₦17.9 billion in a single day, the highest at the time.
- That record was broken again in October 2024 with ₦18.2 billion.
- By March 2025, the command crossed yet another benchmark with ₦18.9 billion in daily revenue collection.
In August 2025 alone, the command netted ₦214.9 billion, powered by the newly launched B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), despite teething technical difficulties.
Cumulatively, Apapa Command had collected ₦1.83 trillion as of early September, representing 60 percent of its ₦3 trillion annual target. For context, this feat marked the first time in the service’s history that any single command hit ₦2 trillion in annual revenue.
“These achievements earned us recognition, including the CGC’s Special Award for Excellence in Revenue Collection, Trade Facilitation, and the Overall Best Area Controller,” Olomu recalled proudly.
Boosting Trade and Modernization
Revenue aside, Dr. Olomu’s tenure was also pivotal in trade facilitation and modernization.
Apapa became Nigeria’s launchpad for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) under his watch. In July 2024, the port facilitated Nigeria’s first-ever AfCFTA shipment under the Guided Trade Initiative, with Nigerian-made goods exported to five African countries. Later in November 2024, another milestone shipment was dispatched to Kenya, cementing Nigeria’s active participation in the agreement.
Beyond AfCFTA, reforms led to faster cargo clearance, dispute resolution mechanisms, and compliance-driven trade operations. “We entrenched a tradition of seamless cargo clearance that made Apapa a true flagship command,” Olomu stated.
Anti-Smuggling: A Firm Stand
Dr. Olomu also made it clear that revenue growth did not come at the cost of enforcement. He emphasized that Apapa Command remained a fortress against smugglers seeking to exploit the system.
Between May 2024 and September 2025, the command recorded 75 seizures, comprising 62 containers of 40ft and 13 of 20ft capacity. Items seized included:
- Expired and substandard medicaments
- Controlled drugs such as tramadol and codeine syrup
- Cannabis and other prohibited substances
- Used clothing and illegally imported timber
“Our fight against smuggling was never rhetoric,” he said firmly. “We proved that Apapa Port is a no-go area for illegalities.”
A Culture of Collaboration
Beyond the numbers, Olomu’s leadership style left a lasting impression. He ran an open-door policy, making himself accessible to freight forwarders, terminal operators, sister security agencies, and the media.
He acknowledged the unwavering support of agencies such as the DSS, Police, Immigration, NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON, NPA, and Port Health in ensuring coordinated enforcement.
“I thank God Almighty, the CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, dsm, psc(+), my officers and men, our stakeholders, and members of the press for standing with me,” he said.
Looking Ahead
As he bows out, Dr. Olomu leaves behind a command he describes as capable of “running on autopilot” with strengthened systems for revenue mobilization, enforcement, ICT deployment, and stakeholder engagement.
But his farewell was not just a reflection—it was also a call for continuity.
“As Oliver Twist would ask for more, I urge you all to give even greater support to my successor. He is a distinguished officer capable of taking Apapa to greater heights,” Olomu charged.
For many stakeholders, Olomu’s tenure at Apapa will be remembered not just for the statistics, but for the leadership ethos he instilled: discipline, collaboration, and a results-driven culture.
Now elevated to the senior management cadre of the Nigeria Customs Service, his next assignment will likely shape policy at the national level. But for Apapa Command, his legacy will stand as a reference point of reform-driven leadership in Nigeria’s maritime trade hub.
Discover more from Ameh News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
