Funso Olojo, Editor 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has smashed its previous revenue record, collecting a staggering ₦323 billion in July 2026, the highest monthly revenue ever recorded by the Command.

The landmark performance eclipses the Command’s previous record of ₦304 billion achieved in October 2025, further cementing Apapa Customs’ position as the NCS’s revenue powerhouse.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, disclosed the figure on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, during the Command’s monthly meeting with Deputy Comptrollers in charge of terminals and Unit Heads.

Oshoba attributed the unprecedented revenue haul to a combination of policy support, operational reforms, improved trade facilitation and stronger compliance by stakeholders.

He particularly commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the NCS management team for driving reforms aimed at modernising customs administration and improving the business environment.

“We recognise and acknowledge the CGC’s devotion and dedication to the modernisation project of the Nigerian Customs Service. The management team has introduced several innovations that have streamlined our activities and given us clear direction,” Oshoba said.

According to him, the reforms are beginning to translate into measurable operational and revenue gains, citing the improved performance of the B’Odogwu customs management system.

Oshoba acknowledged that the digital platform initially encountered operational challenges but said subsequent improvements had significantly enhanced its performance and contributed to the Command’s revenue growth.

He also credited the One-Stop Shop (OSS) initiative with reducing cargo delivery time and creating a more predictable trading environment that encourages legitimate importation.

Another major contributor, he said, was the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) framework, which currently has more than 200 beneficiaries.

The CAC noted that the AEO programme had strengthened trust between Customs and compliant businesses while positively impacting the Command’s revenue profile.

Enforcement drives compliance

Beyond trade facilitation, Oshoba said intelligence-led enforcement remained critical to protecting government revenue.

He disclosed that officers and men of the Command had intensified interventions against false declarations and other infractions while ensuring strict compliance with approved valuation principles.

He stressed that the objective was not merely to increase revenue but to ensure that legitimate trade was protected and government revenue was not lost through deliberate evasion.

Oshoba also linked the improved performance to the more stable foreign exchange environment under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said greater predictability in the forex market had enabled importers and other business operators to plan more effectively, make informed commercial decisions and undertake international trade with increased confidence.

The CAC, however, challenged officers to look beyond routine revenue collection and measure their individual contributions through meaningful interventions.

“In your area of responsibility, you must ask yourself, apart from the normal revenue generated by your unit, what is your own contribution in terms of intervention? What have I added?” he asked.

‘Give stakeholders hope’

Oshoba also placed strong emphasis on trade facilitation and the ease of doing business, urging officers to ensure that legitimate businesses are not unnecessarily frustrated.

He directed officers to resolve disputes promptly where consignments require further scrutiny and ensure that proper documentation and the Post Clearance Audit (PCA) process are deployed appropriately.

On stakeholder relations, he gave officers a simple but pointed directive: “When you interact with stakeholders, let them leave your office with hope rather than despair.”

“As a leader, do not allow anyone who comes to you to depart feeling hopeless or depressed. Give people hope,” he added.

The CAC acknowledged the cooperation of stakeholders and sister government agencies, saying their support had contributed to improved compliance and greater order within the Apapa business environment.

He urged officers to sustain the confidence by maintaining professionalism, respect and collaboration in their dealings with stakeholders.

Sustaining the momentum

Oshoba charged personnel to uphold transparency and discipline while adapting continuously to evolving digital customs processes.

He urged officers to consult more experienced colleagues when necessary, undertake continuous professional development and work smarter to improve productivity.

He also called on Staff Officers to support Deputy Comptrollers in maintaining discipline and building a healthy workplace founded on compassion, empathy, teamwork and concern for the welfare of subordinates.

The CAC further directed the Command to maintain heightened security consciousness, strengthen supervision, intensify in-house training and ensure strict compliance with approved procedures.

While commending officers and compliant stakeholders for the record-breaking performance, Oshoba cautioned that the ₦323 billion milestone should not be treated as an end in itself.

Rather, he described it as a springboard for greater achievements as the year 2026 enters its final months.

The July performance therefore represents not only a new revenue benchmark for Apapa Customs but also a significant test of whether the Command can sustain the momentum through stronger compliance, smarter enforcement and faster cargo clearance in the months ahead.

–generates N19.84bn in 7 months, beats 2025 full-year revenue by N3.9bn

Gloria Odion Maritme reporter

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted a truckload of 1,306 bags of expired noodles, illicit drugs, 310,000 sticks of cigarettes, foreign rice and 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials in a major crackdown on smuggling and cross-border criminality.

The seized consignments, alongside several vehicles and watercraft, have a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N365.16 million, underscoring the intensity of enforcement operations along the Seme border corridor.

The Command also delivered a major revenue performance, generating N19.84 billion between January and July 2026, already surpassing its entire 2025 collection of N15.94 billion by N3.9 billion.

The seven-month collection represents a 24.45 per cent increase over the Command’s 2025 annual performance.

The Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila,who disclosed the seizures while briefing journalists during the display of the seized items, said the enforcement successes were products of intelligence gathering, surveillance, inter-agency cooperation and the vigilance of Customs personnel.

He said the Command would continue to combine aggressive enforcement with trade facilitation to protect the Nigerian economy while ensuring that legitimate businesses operating through the border are not frustrated.

Expired noodles destined for Nigerian market

One of the most disturbing seizures involved 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50kg.

The consignment was intercepted after Customs officers, acting on intelligence, stopped a truck falsely declared to be carrying food items.

Examination of the truck revealed the expired noodles, which had deteriorated and were visibly decomposing.

Preliminary intelligence indicated that the products were allegedly being moved for repackaging and relabelling before being pushed into the Nigerian market.

The interception, according to the Command, prevented potentially hazardous food products from reaching unsuspecting consumers.

The Command stressed that its border enforcement mandate goes beyond revenue protection, noting that Customs operations also serve as a critical line of defence against products capable of endangering public health.

1,268 bags of foreign rice intercepted

Customs officers also intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50kg, allegedly smuggled into the country through unauthorised routes.

The Command said the illegal importation of rice deprives government of legitimate revenue while undermining domestic agricultural production and investments in Nigeria’s rice value chain.

It warned smugglers and their collaborators that officers would sustain surveillance across identified smuggling routes and flashpoints within the border area.

Cannabis, Tramadol, Tapentadol, Cigarettes Seized

The enforcement operation also yielded significant seizures of illicit drugs and regulated products.

Items intercepted included 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg, 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg and 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes.

The Command said the seizure had disrupted illicit supply chains and prevented substances capable of fuelling drug abuse and other social vices from entering Nigerian communities.

The seized pharmaceutical products and illicit drugs are to be handed over to the appropriate regulatory and enforcement agencies for further investigation and necessary action.

3,300 explosive cartridges raise security alarm

The seizure of 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials emerged as one of the most significant security breakthroughs recorded by the Command.

The materials were intercepted while being illegally conveyed through the border corridor.

Given the potential security implications of explosives falling into the hands of criminal networks, the Command said the seizure was particularly significant.

It warned that such materials could potentially be diverted for violent criminal activities, including terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

The explosive materials have been transferred to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit of the Nigeria Police Force for safe custody and further investigation.

One suspect linked to the seizure has also been transferred to the police unit.

Vehicles, watercraft impounded

The enforcement operations further resulted in the interception of a number of vehicles and watercraft.

They include a used speedboat, used water bike, 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2016 Toyota RAV4 and 2010 Nissan Versa.

According to the Command, the combined DPV of all the seized items stands at N365,163,709.

The seizures demonstrate the breadth of the Command’s enforcement activities, ranging from prohibited food products and illicit drugs to vehicles, cigarettes and materials with serious national security implications.

Seme Customs beats 2025 revenue in seven months

While intensifying its enforcement operations, the Command has simultaneously recorded a strong revenue performance.

The Command generated N15,941,258,676.01 in 2025, but within the first seven months of 2026, it had already collected N19,840,280,788.50.

The figure represents an increase of N3,899,022,112.49 over the entire 2025 collection.

The Command attributed the revenue growth to improved compliance, stronger engagement with stakeholders, greater operational efficiency and enhanced facilitation of legitimate trade.

The Area Controller said the revenue performance demonstrates that enforcement and trade facilitation are not contradictory, but complementary elements of modern Customs administration.

He said compliant businesses would continue to receive the necessary support to operate in a predictable and efficient border environment, while smugglers would face sustained enforcement pressure.

AfCFTA, border security in focus

The Seme Area Command also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s economic reform agenda, particularly through the facilitation of legitimate regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Command said its strategy was to keep legitimate commerce moving while tightening the border against economic saboteurs and transnational criminal networks.

It also acknowledged the contributions of sister security agencies and regulatory bodies to intelligence sharing and joint enforcement operations.

The Command said the illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products would be formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as appropriate.

It further commended the media for its role in keeping the public informed about Customs operations and promoting transparency and accountability.

The Command warned smugglers operating along the Seme corridor that the border would not provide a sanctuary for economic sabotage, illicit trade or cross-border criminality.

Bergmans subsidiary wins 20-year continental customs modernisation contract 

Gloria Odion, Maritme reporter

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed the emergence of Nigeria’s homegrown Customs modernisation model as a continental benchmark following the selection of a subsidiary of Nigerian-owned Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited to execute a 20-year, multi-billion-dollar AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project.

The development, according to the President, represents a major vote of confidence in Nigeria’s growing capacity to develop indigenous technology and expertise capable of powering Africa’s emerging trade architecture.

The project will be implemented by AfriTrade CMP Limited, a subsidiary of Bergmans, and is expected to deploy digital and physical infrastructure for customs processing, cargo tracking, border management and trade-data exchange across participating African countries.

Tinubu’s commendation was contained in a State House statement issued yesterday, Monday, August 10th, 2026, by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The President said the continental deal was particularly significant because another subsidiary of Bergmans, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, is already implementing Nigeria’s Customs Modernisation Programme in partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

He described the development as evidence that solutions developed and tested in Nigeria could now be scaled across the continent.

“What has been built and tested in Nigeria is now providing a model for the continent. This is how African integration should work: Africans building African solutions for African markets,” Tinubu said.

He added that Nigerian institutions and businesses could play a pivotal role in building the technology and infrastructure required to make the African Continental Free Trade Area work effectively.

“Under our Nigeria First policy, we will continue to create opportunities for capable Nigerian businesses to compete at home, across Africa and globally,” the President said.

Tinubu specifically commended Bergmans, AfriTrade CMP Limited, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and Nigerian professionals whose work, he said, had earned continental confidence.

The President said the development also reflected the transformation taking place within the Nigeria Customs Service under Adeniyi, particularly in the areas of digitalisation, institutional reform, trade facilitation and indigenous technology deployment.

AfCFTA endorsement

The continental endorsement gathered momentum during the recent visit of the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, to the NCS Headquarters in Abuja, where he inspected the Customs Service’s modernisation platform.

Mene visited the headquarters alongside members of the Senate Committee on Customs led by Senator Jibrin Isah, following a two-day retreat on customs modernisation and reforms.

After witnessing the system in operation, the AfCFTA Secretary-General described B’Odogwu, Nigeria’s indigenous Unified Customs Management System, as a model with potential for wider adoption across Africa.

Mene disclosed that non-African companies had also offered similar solutions but said AfCFTA had opted for an African solution, underscoring the continent’s determination to develop its own expertise and infrastructure.

The endorsement effectively elevates B’Odogwu from a Nigerian Customs digitalisation initiative to a potential template for the continent’s evolving customs administration.

Senator Isah also expressed the Senate committee’s support for the modernisation programme after witnessing the technology in operation, saying members had become ambassadors of the initiative.

B’Odogwu at centre of transformation

First piloted in October 2024, B’Odogwu has become a major component of the NCS modernisation programme, supporting the digitalisation of customs processes and integrating critical functions including cargo tracking, data infrastructure, surveillance, risk management and non-intrusive inspection.

The system is also being integrated with the National Single Window, which was launched in March 2026 as a unified digital gateway for cross-border trade processes.

The integration is expected to improve the speed and transparency of cargo clearance while reducing inefficiencies and strengthening data exchange among agencies involved in international trade.

For Nigeria, the AfCFTA development goes beyond the commercial value of the continental project.

It represents a rare opportunity for the country to export technology, expertise and institutional know-how, rather than merely participate in Africa’s expanding trade market as a consumer.

The development also reinforces the argument that investment in indigenous technology and institutional reform can produce solutions with commercial value beyond Nigeria’s borders.

With AfCFTA seeking to dismantle barriers to intra-African trade, modern customs infrastructure will remain critical to achieving faster cargo clearance, improved revenue collection, effective border controls and seamless exchange of trade information.

The emergence of Nigerian-developed customs technology at the centre of that continental ambition could therefore mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s role in Africa—from being principally a market for imported technology to becoming a provider of strategic trade infrastructure for the continent.