Mu’azu Assumes Office as 33rd Apapa Customs Area Controller, Pledges to Sustain Revenue Gains

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja 

Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu has assumed duty as the 33rd Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), pledging to sustain the Command’s achievements in revenue generation, trade facilitation, enforcement and professional conduct.

Mu’azu formally took over from Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba (Rtd) at an assumption-of-office and farewell ceremony held on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the Command’s Auditorium in Apapa, Lagos.

The ceremony attracted heads and representatives of security and regulatory agencies, government institutions, terminal operators, shipping companies, customs brokers, business stakeholders and other partners of the Command.

In his inaugural address, Mu’azu described his appointment as a “great honour and privilege,” expressing appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, fnipr, psc+, for the confidence reposed in him.

He pledged to discharge his responsibilities in line with the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service and the economic interests of the country.

According to him, his administration would be guided by the three strategic pillars of the Comptroller-General of Customs—consolidation, collaboration and innovation—with emphasis on revenue integrity, efficient trade facilitation, professionalism and stakeholder engagement.

On revenue collection, the new Controller said every revenue due to the government must be properly assessed and collected, while decisions taken by customs officers must remain transparent and capable of withstanding scrutiny.

Mu’azu also pledged to strengthen collaboration with importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, shipping companies, terminal operators, port authorities and other government agencies to make the Apapa Port more efficient and responsive to legitimate trade.

He warned against unnecessary delays in cargo processing, describing such delays as non-tariff barriers that would not be tolerated under his administration.

“Where all requirements have been met, legitimate cargo must be allowed to move without avoidable obstruction,” he said, while charging officers to maintain discipline, professionalism, decorum and courtesy in their dealings with members of the trading public.

Mu’azu acknowledged the achievements recorded by his predecessor, particularly in revenue generation. Under Oshoba, the Apapa Area Command recorded a monthly revenue collection of ₦323 billion in July 2026, while a single-day collection of ₦28.102 billion was recorded on August 18, 2026.

Describing the figures as a significant benchmark, Mu’azu said sustaining and surpassing the record would be a major task for his administration.

“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,” he said.

The new CAC 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.

He noted that such initiatives had contributed to improving efficiency and predictability in customs operations and the trading environment.

In his farewell address, Oshoba 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.

Oshoba charged officers to sustain the standards established during his tenure, stressing that “discipline must remain our foundation, professionalism our standard and excellence our aspiration.”

He also urged officers and stakeholders to extend the same level of support and cooperation to his successor.

Responding, Mu’azu called for collective commitment from officers and stakeholders towards achieving the Command’s objectives.

“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 based on fairness, mutual respect and the national interest.

Mu’azu expressed confidence that the Apapa Area Command would continue to play a leading role in revenue administration, legitimate trade facilitation and professional customs operations.