From Record-Breaking Revenue to a New Mission: Mu’azu Takes Charge at Apapa Customs

Victoria Silvanus

A new chapter has begun at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area Command as Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu officially assumed office as the 33rd Customs Area Controller, promising to build on the achievements of his predecessor while tackling delays that frustrate legitimate businesses at the nation's busiest seaport.

The handover ceremony, held on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, brought together government agencies, security services, terminal operators, shipping companies, customs brokers and other port stakeholders who gathered to bid farewell to retiring Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, and welcome the new helmsman.

For Mu’azu, the assignment comes with both opportunity and pressure.

Apapa Command is not just Nigeria’s flagship Customs command; it is also the country's biggest revenue-generating command. Under Oshoba's leadership, the Command set remarkable records, collecting ₦323 billion in July 2026 and achieving a single-day revenue haul of ₦28.102 billion in August.

Acknowledging the weight of expectations, Mu’azu said he was fully aware of the challenge ahead.

“This is indeed a record to reckon with and strive towards matching. It is therefore a Herculean task upon myself and my team to match and surpass such a record,” he said.

The new Controller pledged to focus on revenue integrity, trade facilitation, professionalism and stronger stakeholder engagement, assuring importers, exporters and licensed customs agents that Customs would continue to support legitimate trade.

He also sent a strong message to officers whose actions contribute to delays in cargo clearance, declaring that unnecessary bottlenecks would no longer be tolerated.

“Unnecessary human delays in cargo processing, otherwise known as Non-Tariff Barriers, shall not be tolerated henceforth,” Mu’azu stated.

According to him, cargo belonging to compliant traders should move without needless delays once all regulatory requirements have been met.

The assurance is likely to resonate with many port users who have long complained about delays and administrative bottlenecks that increase the cost of doing business.

Mu’azu also promised to strengthen collaboration with shipping companies, terminal operators, port authorities and other government agencies to make Apapa Port more efficient and responsive to the needs of businesses.

In his farewell address, Oshoba reflected on a career marked by significant achievements in revenue collection, enforcement and trade facilitation, but insisted that the successes recorded during his tenure were the result of teamwork.

“The achievements recorded during my tenure do not belong to one individual. They belong to all of us,” Oshoba told officers and stakeholders.

He urged officers to remain disciplined and professional, while encouraging them to give the same level of support and cooperation to the incoming Controller.

Beyond the impressive revenue figures, Oshoba's tenure also witnessed the implementation of key Customs modernisation initiatives, including the B’Odogwu platform, Advance Ruling system, Authorised Economic Operator Programme, One-Stop Shop and Non-Intrusive Inspection technology aimed at making cargo clearance faster and more transparent.

As he takes over the reins, Mu’azu said the success of the Command would depend on collective effort rather than the actions of one individual.

“The success we seek cannot be achieved by the CAC alone. It requires our collective efforts, operational integrity and willingness to uphold the standards of the Service,” he said.

For many stakeholders, the transition represents more than a change in leadership. It is a test of whether Apapa Customs can sustain its record-breaking performance while delivering what businesses want most "faster cargo clearance, fewer delays and a more predictable trading environm"