Customs Seizes N9.2bn Worth of Contraband, Achieves 35% Revenue Increase in First Half of 2025 – CAC Olomu
Lagos, July 3, 2025 – The Customs Area Controller for Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Bo Olomu, has announced a significant achievement in both revenue collection and anti-smuggling efforts, while highlighting the command's continued drive for trade facilitation.
Speaking at the mid-year press conference, Comptroller Olomu expressed his gratitude for the support of the media, acknowledging their contributions to the command's successes over the past year. He outlined key achievements in the first half of 2025, particularly in revenue generation, cargo handling, and efforts to combat illicit trade.
Revenue Collection
The Apapa Port Command recorded a remarkable revenue collection of ₦1.38 trillion in the first half of 2025, representing a 35% increase over the ₦1.02 trillion collected in the same period last year. This increase of ₦354 billion was attributed to the diligence of officers and the compliance of traders.
“We remain committed to maximizing government revenue by preventing leakages and applying demand notices when necessary,” Comptroller Olomu stated. “Our performance trajectory suggests that we are on course to surpass our annual revenue target by the end of the year.”
Trade Facilitation
One of the major milestones for the command was the launch of the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), also known as B'Odogwu, which went live at Apapa Port. This new platform enables faster and more efficient cargo processing, with the issuance of the first Single Goods Declaration on May 9, 2025.
In collaboration with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and other stakeholders, the command has initiated talks to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for rail transport of goods from the port to other parts of Nigeria. The aim is to reduce congestion at the port, ease pressure on Apapa’s roads, and provide a cost-effective solution for importers, exporters, and freight forwarders.
Anti-Smuggling Operations
Comptroller Olomu also highlighted the command’s ongoing success in intercepting illegal goods. In the first half of 2025, the command seized 27 containers of illicit items, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦9.27 billion. These included unregistered pharmaceuticals, used clothing, expired margarine, wild animal skins, and codeine syrup.
“These seizures are a direct result of our efforts to prevent harmful and unwholesome goods from entering the country,” Olomu said. “We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the health and safety of Nigerians.”
Among the seized items were 10 containers of unregistered pharmaceuticals and 2 containers of codeine syrup. The command also made significant seizures of stolen vehicles and second-hand clothing, all of which contravene customs regulations.
Additionally, the command sealed 3 bonded terminals for various infractions, with one terminal facing prosecution and investigations ongoing for the other two.
Inter-Agency Collaboration
Comptroller Olomu commended sister agencies for their ongoing support, particularly in intelligence sharing and joint operations aimed at safeguarding national security.
“Our collaboration with other government agencies has been instrumental in combating criminal activities,” he added. “We will continue to strengthen these relationships to ensure we stay one step ahead of criminals.”
The Apapa Port Command remains committed to enhancing trade facilitation, revenue collection, and security, with a clear mandate to uphold national economic interests and public safety.
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