Mu’azu Takes Charge at Apapa Customs, Vows to Build on Oshoba’s Record

By Stella Okocha 

Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu has assumed duty as the 33rd Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, pledging to sustain the Command’s revenue performance while strengthening trade facilitation, enforcement, professionalism and stakeholder engagement.

Mu’azu formally took over from Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba (Rtd) on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, during an assumption-of-office and farewell ceremony held at the Auditorium of the Apapa Area Command.

The ceremony attracted heads of security and regulatory agencies, representatives of government institutions, terminal operators, shipping companies, customs brokers, business stakeholders and other partners of the Command, who gathered to bid farewell to the outgoing Controller and welcome his successor.

In his inaugural address, Mu’azu described his appointment as “a great honour and privilege,” expressing appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, for the confidence reposed in him.

He said he accepted the responsibility with “a deep sense of duty” and a commitment to advancing the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service and protecting the economic interests of the country.

According to him, his administration would align with the three strategic pillars of the Comptroller-General — consolidation, collaboration and innovation — while placing particular emphasis on revenue integrity, efficient trade facilitation, professionalism and meaningful engagement with stakeholders.

On revenue collection, the new Controller stressed the need for transparency and accountability, declaring that every revenue due to government must be properly assessed and collected.

“Every revenue due to government must be properly assessed and collected, and every decision taken by our officers must be capable of standing the test of scrutiny over time,” he said.

Mu’azu also promised to deepen cooperation with importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, shipping companies, terminal operators, port authorities and other government agencies in order to improve the efficiency of operations at the Apapa Port.

A major focus of his administration, he said, would be the removal of unnecessary delays in cargo clearance.

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

He added that where all statutory requirements had been met, legitimate cargo should be allowed to move without avoidable obstruction, while customs officers were expected to uphold discipline, professionalism, courtesy and decorum in their dealings with members of the trading public.

Mu’azu acknowledged the impressive revenue performance recorded under his predecessor, particularly the Command’s historic collections in 2026.

Under Oshoba, the Apapa Area Command recorded a monthly revenue collection of ₦323 billion in July 2026, as well as a single-day collection of ₦28.102 billion on 18 August 2026.

Describing the figures as a significant benchmark, Mu’azu acknowledged the challenge of maintaining the momentum.

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

He also commended Oshoba for his contributions to enforcement, trade facilitation and the implementation of key NCS modernisation initiatives, including B’Odogwu, Advance Ruling, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, the One-Stop Shop and Non-Intrusive Inspection technology.

The Advance Ruling initiative, in particular, has been positioned as a mechanism for providing legitimate traders with greater predictability and clarity on Customs treatment before importation.

Oshoba, in his farewell address, noted that the initiative provides traders with greater certainty, reduces uncertainty and strengthens confidence in the trading environment.

Reflecting on his tenure, the outgoing Controller expressed appreciation to officers, men and stakeholders of the Apapa Area Command for their support and cooperation.

He emphasised that the Command’s achievements were the result of collective effort rather than the work of one individual.

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

He urged officers to preserve the standards established during his tenure, stressing the importance of discipline, professionalism and excellence.

“Discipline must remain our foundation, professionalism our standard and excellence our aspiration,” he said.

Oshoba also appealed to officers and stakeholders to extend the same cooperation and support to his successor as he begins his tenure.

Responding, Mu’azu called for collective responsibility in advancing the Command’s objectives, noting that the task ahead could not be accomplished by the CAC alone.

“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.

Mu’azu expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of officers and stakeholders, the Apapa Area Command would continue to serve as a model for efficient revenue administration, legitimate trade facilitation and professional conduct.

He assured stakeholders that his administration would maintain an open and constructive relationship based on fairness, mutual respect and the national interest.