Apapa Customs Shuts 3 Bonded Terminals Over Unwholesome Practices
…Collects ₦1.378 Trillion in Six Months
Author: Femi Anamelechi.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has sealed three bonded terminals over various infractions in its continued crackdown on non-compliant operators.
This was revealed by the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, during the command’s mid-year press conference held on Thursday, 3 July 2025.
According to the CAC, one of the terminals has already been charged to court, while investigations are ongoing on the remaining two.
Comptroller Olomu also announced the command’s impressive revenue performance, generating a total of ₦1,378,059,019,245.20 between January and June 2025. This represents a 35% increase over the ₦1.023 trillion collected in the same period of 2024, a difference of ₦354 billion.
“Our revenue collection trajectory points to the possibility of achieving or surpassing our annual target by the end of 2025”, Olomu stated.
“We must attribute this collection to our diligent officers and compliant traders. On my watch and under the direction of the CGC, Adewale Adeniyi, we have always insisted on maximum collection of government revenue by preventing leakages and applying Demand Notices (DN) where and when necessary”, he explained.
As part of it’s enforcement activities, the command seized 27 containers of prohibited items in the first half of the year, with a duty paid value of ₦9.267 billion. Items seized included unregistered pharmaceuticals, used clothing, expired margarine, codeine syrup, wild animal skins, and stolen vehicles.
“We will never compromise the health, well-being and safety of Nigerians on the altar of trade facilitation. Every consignment passing through Apapa Port undergoes diligent checks through scanning and physical examination when necessary.”
Comptroller Olomu warned non-compliant importers and their collaborators, stating; “Let me use this medium to once again warn perpetrators of illegal acts that Apapa Port Command is manned by eagle-eyed officers activated to detect and seize uncustomed goods with a clear mandate to arrest perpetrators. We have demonstrated our capacity in this regard and we shall continue to do more.”
Olomu also highlighted the successful deployment of B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), which he said has enhanced the speed and reliability of cargo clearance.
He noted that the first Single Goods Declaration (SGD) was issued using the platform on 9 May 2025.
In a bid to decongest the port and ease movement of cargo, the Area Controller stated that the command has commenced talks with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and other stakeholders to establish a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for rail-based cargo evacuation.
He commended sister agencies for their support in intelligence sharing and joint operations, stressing that inter-agency synergy has been instrumental in disrupting the activities of criminal networks.
