HANDING OVER: Stakeholders Bid Olomu Farewell At Apapa Customs, As Compt Oshoba Takes Over Command
ACG Babatunde Olomu handover N1.8Trillion already generated under his watch at Apapa Customs Command to his successor, Compt Oshoba at a handing over ceremony at the command on Monday
By DAPO OLAWUNI
Stakeholders operating at Nigerian ports on Monday gathered to bid the newly promoted Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Babatunde Olomu farewell at Apapa Customs Command where he held sway for the past fifteen months.
ACG Olomu has successfully handed over the battle of leadership at the command to Compt Osoba.
Stakeholders who gathered at the handing over ceremony to give goodwill messsges include; Founder of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Dr Boniface Aniebonam confiremed that ACG Olomu has done very well at Apapa.
“For the incoming, the task before you and the records are so high and challenging, but on behalf of NAGAFF, you have our support to do better than your predecessor. What we want from you is industrial peace.
We thought there was no need to change the winning team, but promotion has taken place” Aniebonam said.
Also speaking, Chairman of Customs Consultative Committee (CCC) Alhaji Hakeem Olarenwaju assured that the same support given to ACG Olomu would be devoted to the incoming Area Controller
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Stoirin Maritime Services, and Member of Board of Trustees of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Mr Demola Mumuney, states that
ACG Olomu has been a success story in Apapa for the past 15 months.
“I want the officers that worked with him should do same for the incoming Controller. The new CAC should take a cue from him, and we shall give him our maximum support” he said.
Others who spoke at the handing over ceremony are; Steen Knudsen, Terminal Manager, APM Terminals Apapa, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Las Ali Shobande and a freight forwarder, Princess Chi Eze.
Giving his farewell speech, ACG Babatunde Olomu noted that it was under his watch that the Apapa command achieved its first N2 trillion revenue collection which is an unprecedented feat by the command in the history of the service.
“In recognition of this, the command and my humble self-earned numerous awards including the CGC Special Award for Excellence in Revenue Collection, Trade Facilitation, and Overall Best Area Controller.
“It is noteworthy to state that we didn’t just arrive there. We stayed focused laying the bricks for improvement in our collection hourly. daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly to arrive at the outstanding accomplishments.
“We achieved a record-breaking single-day revenue collection of over #17.9 billion on June 19,2024. Again, the command set another benchmark with 18.2 billion in daily revenue in October 2024.
Furthermore, another dally revenue collection record of N18.9 billion was made on March 14 2025.
“Consequently, for the month of August, 2025, the Command collected N214.9 billion using the newly Introduced B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System, despite initial technical challenges.
“As at today, we have collected a total of One trillion, eight hundred and thirty-four billion, seven hundred and eighty-nine million, four hundred and ninety-nine thousand, eight hundred and fifty naira, forty kobo (N1,834,789,499,850.40) for the year 2025. I am optimistic that my successor will build on these achievements to surpass our 2025 revenue target of N3 trillion since we have attained 60% of our annual collection”
In terms of trade facilitation and modernization, ACG Olomu stated that under his watch, the Apapa command has been effectively positioned as a central hub for implementing trade facilitation reforms championed by the Comptroller-General of Customs.
“Furthermore, while here, together we entrenched a tradition of faster cargo clearance, seamless trade dispute resolution and promotion of compliance for all importers, exporters, freight forwarders, licensed customs agents, terminal operators, bonded terminal owners and everyone interfacing with the NCS through this command.
“Despite ensuring maximum collection of all revenue due to the federal government from customs duties, we never slept on our anti-smuggling responsibility. Our fight against smuggling was never a rhetoric. We proved to the smugglers and their collaborators that Apapa Port is a no-go area for illegalities.
“Therefore, the command is poised to always deal with the activities of unscrupulous elements that may want to test our resolve to address the menace of bringing in unregistered and controlled medicaments.
“In the 15 months I served here, we made 75 seizures of various items broken down to 62 units of 40ft containers and 13 units of 2011 containers. The seizures comprise of fake, expired and substandard medicaments, controlled drugs as codeine syrup, tramadol, Indian hemp, and other items like used clothing, wood” he said
In his acceptance speech, the newly appointed Area Controller of Apapa Command, Compt EOA Oshoba requested officers and stakeholders to renew their dedication and shared vision for excellence at the command.
He also solicited for maximum support from every one, saying that “As I step into this role, my first priority is to apply the three Ls; Look, Listen and Learn.
I want to understand the heartbeat of this command, know the challenges and work together with everyone to surmount them.
Please join me in this journey, as you did with my predecessor, do with me”
