The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a landmark revenue performance for the 2025 fiscal year, generating a total of N2.93 trillion, representing a 24.32% increase over its 2024 collections. The result further cements Apapa’s status as Nigeria’s highest revenue-generating customs command and a critical pillar of the country’s non-oil revenue drive.
The disclosure was made in Lagos on Wednesday by the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Emmanuel Oshoba, in a statement issued through the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman. According to the statement, the command’s 2025 revenue haul represents an increase of N573.29 billion compared to the N2.36 trillion collected in 2024.
Leadership, compliance drive revenue growth
Comptroller Oshoba attributed the strong performance to focused leadership, disciplined personnel, and the strategic deployment of modern trade facilitation and enforcement tools. He noted that improved compliance by importers and clearing agents also played a significant role in boosting collections.
“The increase reflects the impact of focused leadership, disciplined officers, strategic use of modern trade tools and improved compliance by importers,” Oshoba said, adding that the achievement aligns with the reform agenda of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi.
He explained that the Apapa Command’s consistent improvement in revenue generation reinforces its position as the flagship command of the NCS, given Apapa Port’s role as Nigeria’s busiest and most commercially significant seaport.
Enforcement: illicit cargo seizures worth N12.63 billion
Beyond revenue generation, the command also recorded significant enforcement successes in 2025. Oshoba disclosed that officers intercepted 53 containers laden with illicit drugs and prohibited items during the year. The seizures included cocaine, Canadian Loud, tramadol, and expired pharmaceutical products, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N12.63 billion.
He said several of the seized consignments were handed over to relevant regulatory and security agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), for further investigation and prosecution.
“These seizures underscore our commitment to protecting national security, public health, and the economy while facilitating legitimate trade,” Oshoba said.
Technology boosts transparency and efficiency
A major driver of the command’s improved performance, according to Oshoba, was the deployment of the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), popularly known as B’Odogwu. He said the platform has significantly enhanced transparency, accountability, and efficiency in cargo clearance processes, reducing human discretion and leakages.
In addition, the command intensified trade facilitation efforts through expanded stakeholder engagement, supported by the rollout of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and the One-Stop Shop (OSS) framework. These initiatives, he noted, have helped speed up the clearance of compliant cargo while allowing customs officers to focus enforcement resources on high-risk consignments.
Plans for advanced cargo scanning
Looking ahead, Oshoba revealed plans to deploy the FS6000 cargo scanning system, a non-intrusive inspection technology capable of scanning up to 200 containers per hour. He said the system would further strengthen enforcement, reduce delays, and improve overall port efficiency once fully implemented.
The Apapa Customs boss also commended importers, licensed customs agents, shipping companies, terminal operators, and haulage providers for their cooperation and adherence to lawful trade practices, noting that sustained stakeholder collaboration was key to the command’s success.
Outlook for 2026
Oshoba expressed optimism that 2026 would deliver even stronger results, driven by the full implementation of the B’Odogwu platform, wider adoption of the AEO and OSS initiatives, enhanced intelligence-led enforcement, and deeper inter-agency collaboration.
What you should know is that Apapa’s strong annual showing builds on record-breaking monthly performances. In October 2025, the command generated N304 billion, the highest monthly revenue ever recorded by any customs command in Nigeria, surpassing the N264 billion collected in October 2024.
Taken together, the 2025 results highlight the growing importance of customs revenue to Nigeria’s fiscal position and underscore how technology-driven reforms, disciplined enforcement, and stakeholder engagement can deliver measurable gains in public revenue mobilisation.
Emmanuel Bassey is a Financial Expert that has worked in the Banking and Finance Industry for over 15+ years across different banks in Nigeria
