Farewell Address by ACG BO Olomu, Outgoing Apapa Port Command Customs Area Controller
The incoming CAC, Apapa Area Command
Comptrollers of Customs
Terminal/Unit Heads
Distinguished Stakeholders
Members of the Press
Ladies and gentlemen
Today I address you with mixed feelings reminiscing on the beautiful moments we shared together during my time here as Area Controller of Apapa Port, but I am constantly reminded that the service period was meant to bring challenges, proffer solutions to keep Nigeria better and at some point, come to an end. I am glad to inform you that l am now elevated to the rank of Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, ACG and my tenure as the CAC has come to an end.
Sincerely, I thank the CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR dsm psc (+) for trusting me with the task of piloting customs affairs in our flagship command and I want to gladly inform you all that this phase of service for me as CAC Apapa has ended. Providence requests that I move further to serve elsewhere.
When I assumed duty on 6 May 2024, it was with sleeves rolled up, two a hands on deck, enjoying the maximum support of my Officers and Men in addition to full cooperation of our esteemed stakeholders comprising of government agencies and private sector operators including the media.
SUMMARY OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
While this speech and time would not permit me to reel out every of our achievement, I am going to summarize them. Together as a team, we all confronted odds to excel and we accomplished in the areas of revenue collection, anti-smuggling, trade facilitation and robust stakeholders’ engagement.
This team spirit was imbibed in taking a cue from the CGC’s policy direction of working closely with all our stakeholders at various levels. We have laid a solid structure for consolidation. Under the guidance of the CGC, I ensured this command can operate optimally on an autopilot mode in revenue and anti-smuggling, stakeholders’ engagement, ICT deployment and all other indices for measurement of Customs efficiency.
REVENUE :
It was on my watch that this command achieved its first ₦2 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 N18.2 billion in daily revenue in October 2024.
Furthermore, another daily revenue collection record of ₦18.9 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.
TRADE FACILITATION AND MODERNIZATION:
On my watch, this command has been effectively positioned as a central hub for implementing trade facilitation reforms championed by the Comptroller-General of Customs. These reforms which aim to modernize the Nigeria Customs Service and enhance Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) recorded remarkable milestones.
While I was here as CAC, Nigeria made its historic first African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) shipment from Apapa Port in July 2024, launching our country’s participation in the scheme’s Guided Trade Initiative (GTI).
Nigerian manufactured goods were sent to five other African countries. Another milestone shipment under AfCFTA from Nigeria which we facilitated was sent to Kenya in November 2024, showcasing our country’s active role and commitment to boosting intra-African trade through the agreement.
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.
ENFORCEMENT/ANTI-SMUGGLING:
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 20ft 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 etc.
STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT:
I ran an open-door policy, ensured easy interaction with all our stakeholders. We have always interacted to address any impediment associated with trade in Apapa port. In addition to that, my telephone line was also readily available for information sharing and feedback with all stakeholders.
APPRECIATION:
I want to specially thank God Almighty for bringing me thus far, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, dsm psc(+), all my Officers/Men esteemed stakeholders, distinguished members of the fourth estate of the realm for their unwavering support towards our collective success during this period of 15 months I was here as CAC.
Finally, our sister agencies like the DSS, Police, Immigration, NDLEA, Port Health, NAFDAC, SON, Quarantine, NPA and others have been very supportive. You all are highly appreciated. As Oliver Twist who always ask for more, I am asking that you do more than that for my successor who is also a distinguished gentleman officer with capability to take this command to greater heights.
BO OLOMU fsi Ph.D
Assistant Comptroller-General.
