The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area Port Command, has announced that it generated ₦2.93 trillion in revenue in 2025, reflecting an increase of ₦573.2 billion from the ₦2.35 trillion collected in 2024. The growth represents a 24.3 per cent rise year-on-year.
The disclosure was made on Wednesday in a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman, and shared with The PUNCH.
According to the statement, the 2025 revenue performance highlights the Apapa Command’s continued role as the highest revenue-earning customs command in the country. The command described the outcome as a significant improvement over the previous year’s results.
The Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, credited the achievement to strong leadership, disciplined personnel, and the effective use of technology under the direction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi. He also acknowledged the contribution of compliant stakeholders, noting that their commitment to lawful trade practices supported the revenue increase.
Oshoba said a key factor behind the improved collections was the implementation of the Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu. He explained that the platform improved transparency, operational efficiency, and accountability in cargo clearance, while regular performance assessments and prompt recovery measures helped to boost revenue.
On trade facilitation, Oshoba noted that the command intensified stakeholder engagement following the introduction of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme. He added that the One-Stop Shop (OSS) initiative was expanded to speed up cargo processing and ensure quicker release for compliant importers. He also disclosed that plans are underway to deploy the FS6000 cargo scanning system, a non-intrusive inspection technology capable of scanning up to 200 containers per hour.
In terms of enforcement, the Apapa Command recorded notable successes in 2025, intercepting 53 containers containing illicit drugs and prohibited goods. The seized items included cocaine, Canadian loud, tramadol, and expired pharmaceutical products, with a combined duty-paid value of ₦12.6 billion. Oshoba said several of the seizures were transferred to relevant agencies such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for further investigation and prosecution.
Looking ahead, Oshoba expressed confidence that the command would surpass current revenue levels in 2026. He said this would be driven by deeper application of the B’Odogwu system, AEO and OSS initiatives, improved intelligence-led enforcement, and closer collaboration with sister agencies. He assured stakeholders of sustained engagement with terminal operators, shipping companies, customs agents, freight forwarders, haulage operators, and the media to enhance transparency and ease of trade at the port.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, also reported strong revenue growth in 2025. The command said it generated ₦15.5 billion between January and December, representing a 117 per cent increase compared to the ₦7.1 billion collected in 2024.
The Seme Command’s Public Relations Officer, Tunde Ayagbalo, said the command achieved its highest annual and monthly revenue figures since inception. He disclosed that ₦3.6 billion was generated in December 2025 alone, the highest monthly collection on record.
Ayagbalo attributed the performance to the successful implementation of the One-Stop Shop initiative, which improved coordination and trade facilitation. He added that the command maintained strong anti-smuggling operations, intercepting large quantities of cannabis sativa, tramadol, and sildenafil through intelligence-driven enforcement, enhanced patrols, and collaboration with other security agencies.
