Bonded Terminal Faces Prosecution Over Trade Infractions
… as Apapa Customs records 35% leap in revenue collection
Nifemi Coker
The Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, has disclosed that the Command sealed three bonded terminals in Lagos, with one of them facing prosecution for trade infractions. The other two are currently under thorough investigation.
Speaking during a press briefing in Lagos yesterday, Olomu explained that the action is in line with the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to curbing the trafficking of illicit, prohibited, and harmful commodities into the Nigerian market.
According to the Command’s half-year report, it intercepted 27 containers of contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦9.27 billion. These included unregistered pharmaceuticals, expired food products, codeine syrup, used clothing, stolen vehicles, and wildlife parts.
“These seizures are a result of our efforts to protect Nigerians from unwholesome food and drugs, curb illicit trade, and safeguard our local industries,” Olomu said.
“As a matter of standard practice, we will never compromise the health, well-being, and safety of Nigerians on the altar of trade facilitation. Unregistered pharmaceuticals were the most prominent among the seizures made by the Command during the first half of 2025.”
Revenue generation
On revenue performance, Comptroller Olomu announced that the Command generated ₦1.378 trillion in the first half of 2025, representing a remarkable 35% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.
He attributed the revenue growth to the dedication of officers, improved compliance by traders, and the strategic leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
“We insisted on maximum revenue collection and plugged leakages through effective issuance of demand notices,” he stated.
Digital Adaptation and multimodal transportation integration
The Command also marked significant milestones, including the first-ever use of the Single Goods Declaration (SGD) through the new B’Odogwu digital platform—an upgrade designed to streamline cargo clearance and ease port congestion.
In a move to further modernise operations, the Command is collaborating with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and industry stakeholders to revive the movement of cargo by rail from Apapa Port. This initiative is expected to ease road congestion and reduce logistics costs.
Commendations
The Area Controller commended sister government agencies for their collaboration, particularly in intelligence sharing, which he described as vital to the fight against criminal networks.
“Let me use this opportunity to commend other sister government agencies for their support. We have always benefitted from robust intelligence sharing and joint consultations aimed at ensuring national security. Our unity has dealt significant blows to criminal activities, and we will continue to strengthen that bond,” he said.
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