A new record has been set at the Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) barely 24 hours after the assumption of office by Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba as the Area Controller.
On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the command announced a staggering revenue collection of ₦20,156,077,098.56 — the highest daily figure ever recorded by any command in the NCS under the Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu).
The milestone shatters the previous record of ₦18 billion collected by the same command, underlining what Comptroller Oshoba described as his determination to “not just sustain, but surpass” the successes of his predecessor.
The feat comes less than a day after Oshoba’s maiden address where he pledged to push Apapa, the flagship command of Customs operations, to new heights in revenue generation and trade facilitation.
Shortly after taking charge, Oshoba convened a meeting with senior officers of the command, applauding their past achievements while charging them to raise the bar even higher.
He reminded them that “outstanding results are the true proof of hard work, dedication, and an uncompromising approach to duty,” stressing that the command’s performance must continue to justify its reputation as the nation’s economic gateway.
On the historic ₦20.1 billion single-day collection, the Comptroller was quick to downplay celebrations, insisting that the achievement was merely the beginning of greater exploits.
“It’s not time to clap yet,” he said. “Clapping means removing both hands from work to celebrate. Let’s save the applause for when we have consistently surpassed targets, curbed smuggling attempts, and ensured speed and integrity in trade facilitation.”
Oshoba explained that the record was achieved through the deployment of B’Odogwu, a Unified Customs Management System which he described as a necessity in building a modern and efficient customs administration for Nigeria.
He argued that the system’s impact would go beyond revenue numbers, positioning Nigeria more firmly as Africa’s largest economy and a hub for legitimate trade.
“B’Odogwu is not just about figures,” he noted. “It is about integrity, transparency, and efficiency in a way that resonates positively with stakeholders and the Nigerian economy at large.”
The Comptroller expressed gratitude to his officers and stakeholders at the port for their commitment to compliance, urging them to remain steadfast in the collective mission.
He pledged that under his leadership, Apapa Command would remain uncompromising in its fight against smuggling, concealment, and other sharp practices that threaten the integrity of trade and border management.
“Action speaks louder than words,” Oshoba said, promising to combine high standards of professionalism with practical results that would continue to set new benchmarks for the Service.
As Nigeria battles to expand its non-oil revenue base, the new Comptroller’s early record at Apapa signals what could be a defining chapter in customs operations — one that blends reform-driven leadership with the sheer weight of numbers to boost the nation’s economy.
