The Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Customs Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu fsi, has assured stakeholders that his officers will always stay ahead of smuggler networks attempting to undermine national security.
Olomu gave this assurance on Monday, August 18, 2025, during a working visit by Dr. Martin Iluyomade fsi, Director of Inspection and Enforcement at the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The NAFDAC chief, who also chairs the Federal Task Force on Fake, Substandard Drugs and Unwholesome Foods, came calling to strengthen inter-agency collaboration at the nation’s premier port.
Addressing his guest, Comptroller Olomu said intelligence and uncompromising enforcement remain the backbone of Apapa Command’s operations. He revealed that smugglers’ attempts to outwit Customs using fake registration numbers and false declarations have consistently failed, thanks to proactive intelligence.
“We will always be ahead of them,” Olomu declared, noting that the Command is fully committed to implementing the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Comptroller-General of Customs and the Director General of NAFDAC. The MoU, he stressed, is central to curbing the influx of dangerous goods regulated by NAFDAC.
The Area Controller also appealed to the agency to fast-track the evacuation of seized containers from the port to avoid congestion and ensure smooth operations. He added that Customs will continue to ensure that suspects are arrested alongside their illicit cargo, thereby dismantling the human networks behind smuggling.
“Arresting culprits is vital,” he explained, “because it breaks the human chain that fuels this cycle of illegal trade.” He emphasized that officers under his watch have embraced zero tolerance for smuggling, motivated by the need to protect Nigerians from harmful imports ranging from fake consumables to illicit arms.
Citing a recent high-profile seizure, Olomu recalled the interception of 32 containers of banned products, which attracted the Comptroller-General himself to supervise their handover to NAFDAC. For him, such moments highlight the synergy between the two agencies and justify the renewed commitment to their partnership.
Responding, Dr. Iluyomade commended Olomu and his team for what he described as “life-saving seizures.” He drew a chilling contrast: “You can kill one or two people with guns, but fake drugs and unwholesome food can wipe out an entire nation. Importers of such items are declaring war on Nigerians.”
The NAFDAC enforcement boss went further, describing Olomu as “the best Controller Apapa Command has ever had.” He noted that having started his career as a young NAFDAC officer, he had witnessed the transformation of Customs’ anti-smuggling operations over the years and praised the Apapa Command’s award-winning performance under Olomu’s leadership.
While pledging continued support, Iluyomade urged for tighter security of handed-over containers to prevent pilferage before NAFDAC evacuates them. He noted that safeguarding such consignments was critical to sustaining the public’s confidence in the Customs–NAFDAC partnership.
As the meeting ended, both agencies reaffirmed their shared mission: protecting Nigerians from harmful imports and ensuring that the nation’s busiest port remains a gateway for legitimate trade, not a corridor of danger.
For Comptroller Olomu, the message was clear and uncompromising: “As long as we are here, smugglers will never be ahead of us.”
