Customs

Finally, FG reopens Idiroko , other three land borders

Eyewitness reporter

The Federal government has finally reopened the remaining four land borders that were shut in 2019.

This was after the government, in 2020, ordered the reopening of the first four land borders, out of the eight shut, in the wake of indiscriminate and unprecedented influx of contraband goods into the country.

The affected borders are Idiroko, Jibiya, Kamba and Ikom borders.

Earlier in 2010, the government had reopened Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfun leaving out Idiroko, Jibiya, Kamba and Ikom, which have now been opened.

According to a circular by the Nigeria Customs Service and signed by Deputy Comptroller General, Enforcement and Inspection, DCG, E.I Edorhe, titled, ‘re-opening of four additional Nigerian border Posts’, the service, directed the immediate re-opening of the other four land borders.

According to him, all Customs formations and Joint Border Patrol Teams (JBPTs), should ensure proper manning in compliance with extant operational guidelines.

The circular reads, “Sequel to the presidential directive dated 16 December 2020 granting approval for the phased reopening of land borders namely, Mfum, Seme, Illela and Maigatari borders across the country, I am directed to inform you that four additional borders stated below have been approved for re-opening.

“The borders are Idiroko border post, Ogun State (South-West Zone); Jibiya border post, Katsina State (North-West Zone; Kamba border post, Kebbi State (North-West Zone) and ikom border post, Cross River State (South-South Zone).

“Consequently, all Customs formations and JBPTs are to take note and ensure that proper manning takes place in compliance with extant operational guidelines.

It could be recalled that the federal government on October 15, 2019, announced the shutting of all land borders to import.

“All goods, for now, are banned from being exported or imported through our land borders and that is to ensure we have total control over what comes in,” Hameed Ali, comptroller-general of the Nigerian Customs Service had declared said.

In December 2020, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), announced the immediate re-opening of four out of the eight major land borders.

Customs

Comptroller Oshoba hits the ground running with record of N20 billion revenue collection in single day

Gloria Odion

The new Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, has served a strong message about his intention to beat the record of his predecessor, Assistant Comptroller- General of Customs, Babatunde Olomu as he has a collection of N20 billion in a single day.

The new Controller made this feat barely 24 hours after he assumed office on Monday, September 8th, 2025.

The latest record-breaking collection now stands as the highest daily revenue of any command in the Nigeria Customs Service, using the Unified Customs Management System, also known as B’Odogwu

This record has not only broken the existing ₦18b achieved by the command but has also confirmed the new CAC’s resolve to meet and surpass the revenue target set for the command as stated in his maiden address on Monday

Shortly after taking over, Comptroller Oshoba met with senior officers of the command where he commended them for the great feats achieved in the past with a directive urging them to increase their tempo of productivity.

He reminded them that outstanding results are the real proof of hard work, dedication and uncompromising disposition to duty and that he believes they could do better than they did before his arrival.

On the recent ₦20.1b collection in a day, Comptroller Oshoba said it’s only the beginning of greater exploits and it’s not time for celebration because he foresees greater achievements for the flagship command of NCS under his leadership

He described B’Odogwu as a necessity in the build-up to a more modern and efficient customs administration in Nigeria with potential to strengthen the country’s position as Africa’s largest economy noted for trade facilitation.

“I commend my team and stakeholders for this great milestone of ₦20.1b collection in one day just 24 hours after I resumed here.

” It’s not the time to clap yet because clapping means removing your two hands from work to celebrate.

“Let’s leave the celebration and applause for days ahead when we shall have future achievements of surpassing targets, curbing any attempted smuggling or concealment and treating trade with productive speed without compromising our integrity.

“I believe in action, which speaks louder than words

“We are all part of history as our collective efforts are resonating positively on the Nigerian economy.

” I urge my officers to keep the great work going and for the stakeholders, they should stay on the path of compliance ” Comptroller Oshoba said.

Customs

Olomu recounts achievements as he bows out of Apapa Customs command amidst applause

– hands over big shoe to Comptroller Oshoba

Gloria Odion

For 15 performance – parked months,the newly promoted Assistant Comptroller- General of Customs, ACG Babatunde Olomu, bestrode the landscape of Apapa command of the Nigeria customs service like a Colossus.

His blistering performance saw him set revenue record of N2 trillion in 2024 while he handed over N1.8 trillion receipt collected so far in 2025, which was 60 percent of the N3 trillion annual revenue target of the command.

According to Olomu, who handed the baton of leadership of the command to Comptroller E O Oshoba on Monday, September 8th, 2025, the Apapa command under his watch also achieved a record-breaking single-day revenue of ₦17.9 billion on June 19, 2024, surpassed by ₦18.2 billion in October 2024, and later ₦18.9 billion on March 14, 2025.

For August 2025 alone, the command also generated ₦214.9 billion despite initial technical hitches that accompanied the introduction of B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS).

On trade facilitation, Olomu recalled that Apapa Port played a pioneering role in Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), including the first historic shipment under the Guided Trade Initiative in July 2024 and a subsequent shipment to Kenya in November of the same year.

He also stressed his administration’s success in promoting faster cargo clearance, dispute resolution, and compliance.

In anti-smuggling operations, the outgone CAC revealed that the command seized 75 containers of contraband within his tenure, comprising fake and expired medicaments, codeine syrup, tramadol, cannabis, used clothing, and other prohibited items.

With this impressive performance, Olomu, recently elevated to the management cadre of the Service as a ACG, bowed out from the leadership of the Apapa command command with a thunderous applause and commendations from stakeholders who believed he had left behind a big shoe for his successor, Comptroller E.O.A. Oshoba.

The new Customs Area Controller pledged to sustain the achievements of his predecessor while bringing new energy into the command.

He commended Olomu’s record-breaking tenure and assured that he would build on the legacies of transparency, integrity, and modernization.

Oshoba outlined his leadership philosophy as “Look, Listen, and Learn,” noting that his immediate focus would be to understand the peculiar challenges of the command and collaborate with officers and stakeholders to address them.

The new helmsman called for renewed dedication and maximum cooperation, stressing that “no one succeeds alone.”

Comptroller Oshoba promised to deepen ongoing reforms under the Comptroller-General, especially in trade facilitation, ICT deployment, and global best practices.

He pledged to strengthen programs such as the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), Time Release Study (TRS), and Advanced Ruling (AR), while pushing the UCMS to greater heights.

“As Nigeria now chairs the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, we must uphold compliance, transparency, and innovation to maintain our leadership role in global customs administration,” Oshoba stated.

He assured stakeholders that his tenure would prioritize inclusiveness, innovation, and excellence, promising to “sustain the excellent records achieved and, by the grace of God, break new grounds for Nigeria through Apapa Port.”

Customs

Whirlwind of career progression hits Customs.

–appoints four DCGs,12 ACGs, promotes 3,312 senior officers, 202 Junior officers

— collects 3.7 trillion in six months.

Funso OLOJO

In a gale of career advancement, the Board of the Nigeria Customs Service, at its 63rd regular meeting held on September 2nd,2025, has approved the appointment of four Deputy Comptroller- General of Customs(DCGs), 12 Assistant Comptroller- General of Customs(ACGs) while it endorsed the promotion of 3,312 senior officers into various cadres.

According to the statement by the Service, the Customs’ Board, Chaired by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, endorsed these appointments to fill vacancies created by the recent retirement of some management members.

These appointments were also made in line with the availability of positions across the six geopolitical zones and in strict compliance with the Federal Character Policy of the Government, as provided in Section 14(4) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

The newly appointed DCGs are: AB Mohammed (North-West), GO Omale (North-Central), OC Orbih (South-South), D Nnadi (South-East).

While the new ACGs include: MP Binga (North-East), CA Awo (South-East), AB Shuaibu (North-Central), AT Abe (North-West), K Mohammed (North-West), B Mohammed (North-West), TM Daniyan (North-Central), B Oramalugo (South-East), OP Olaniyan (South-West), B Olomu (South-West), IK Oladeji (South-West), and CC Dim (South-East).

The promotion of 3,312 senior officers cut across various ranks from Comptroller of Customs (CC) to Assistant Superintendent of Customs II (ASC 11).

Additionally, the NCS Management during its 6th Management Meeting held on Friday, 29 August 2025, approved the promotion of 202 junior officers from Assistant Inspector (AIC) to Customs Assistant I (CA1).

Meanwhile, the Service has announced that it collected the sum of N3.7 trillion between January to June, 2025, representing, representing a remarkable performance above expectations.

The collected revenue surpassed the projected revenue for the period by N390,197,847,119.32, equivalent of 11.85%, reflecting the Service’s strengthened capacity in revenue mobilisation.

“In practical terms, this signifies that within six months, the NCS has already achieved 55.93% of its annual revenue target.

“The Board noted that this impressive outcome underscores the effectiveness of ongoing reforms, improved compliance by stakeholders, and enhanced deployment of technology in Customs operations” the statement said.

It was also revealed that the Service has taken delivery of six additional scanners, including an FS6000 model to boost non-intrusive inspection.

Similarly, the NCS has procured Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) equipment, setup of the Centralised Image Analysis System (CIAS) at Customs Headquarters, reinforcement of cybersecurity architecture, operationalisation of a multi-channel help desk, onboarding of additional stakeholders, and delivery of targeted capacity-building programmes.