Mu’azu assumes duty as 33rd Apapa Customs Area Controller, vows to sustain revenue gains

By Onu Okorie

Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu has formally assumed duty as the 33rd Customs Area Controller CAC of the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service NCS, pledging to consolidate the command’s achievements in revenue generation, trade facilitation, enforcement and institutional discipline.
Mu’azu made the commitment on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, during the assumption-of-office and farewell ceremony held at the Auditorium of the Apapa Area Command.
The event was attended by heads of security and regulatory agencies, representatives of government institutions, terminal operators, shipping and business stakeholders, customs brokers and other partners of the command, who delivered goodwill messages to the outgoing and incoming controllers.
In his inaugural address, Mu’azu described his appointment as “a great honour and privilege” and expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, fnipr, psc+, for the confidence reposed in him.
He said his administration would be guided by the Comptroller-General’s three strategic pillars of consolidation, collaboration and innovation, with emphasis on revenue integrity, efficient trade facilitation, professionalism and stakeholder engagement.
“Every revenue due to government must be properly assessed and collected, and every decision taken by our officers must be capable of standing the test of scrutiny over time,” Mu’azu said.
The new CAC also promised deeper collaboration with importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, shipping companies, terminal operators, port authorities and other government agencies to improve the efficiency of operations at Apapa Port.
He declared that his administration would not tolerate avoidable delays in cargo processing, describing unnecessary human delays as non-tariff barriers.
“Unnecessary human delays in cargo processing otherwise known as Non-Tariff Barriers shall not be tolerated henceforth,” he said, adding that legitimate cargo should be allowed to move once all requirements had been fulfilled.
Mu’azu further charged officers to maintain discipline, professionalism, decorum and courtesy in their dealings with members of the trading public.
The new controller acknowledged the achievements of his predecessor, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba (Rtd), particularly in revenue generation.
Under Oshoba, the Apapa Area Command recorded a monthly revenue collection of ₦323 billion in July 2026, described as a historic collection, as well as a single-day collection of ₦28.102 billion on August 18, 2026.
“This is indeed a record to reckon with and strive towards matching same. It is therefore a Herculean task upon myself and my team to match and surpass such a record,” Mu’azu said.
He also commended Oshoba for his contributions to enforcement, trade facilitation and the implementation of the Service’s modernisation initiatives, including B’Odogwu, Advance Ruling, the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, the One-Stop Shop and Non-Intrusive Inspection technology.
Oshoba, in his farewell address, expressed appreciation to officers, men and stakeholders of the Apapa Area Command for their support during his tenure.
“The achievements recorded during my tenure do not belong to one individual. They belong to all of us,” he said.
He urged officers to sustain the standards established by the command, stressing that discipline, professionalism and excellence must remain central to its operations.
“Discipline must remain our foundation, professionalism our standard and excellence our aspiration,” Oshoba said.
He also called on officers and stakeholders to extend the same support and cooperation to his successor.
Responding, Mu’azu said the continued success of the Apapa Area Command would require collective responsibility from officers, stakeholders and other partners.
“The success we seek cannot be achieved by the CAC alone. It requires our collective efforts, operational integrity and willingness to uphold the standards of the Service,” he said.
He assured stakeholders of an open and constructive relationship anchored on fairness, mutual respect and the national interest.
Mu’azu expressed confidence that the Apapa Area Command would continue to serve as a model of efficient revenue administration, legitimate trade facilitation and professional conduct.