Uche Cecil Izuora
Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu has assumed duty asCustoms Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Area Command, with a pledge to consolidate the Command’s achievements in revenue generation, trade facilitation, enforcement and institutional discipline.
The assumption-of-office and farewell ceremony, held on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, at the Auditorium of the Apapa Area Command, was attended by heads of security and regulatory agencies, representatives of government agencies, terminal operators, shipping and business stakeholders, customs brokers and other partners of the Command, who delivered goodwill messages to the outgoing and incoming Controllers.
In his inaugural address, Comptroller Mu’azu described his appointment as “a great honour and privilege” and expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs for the confidence reposed in him. He stated: “I wish to express my profound appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR PhD fnipr, psc+ for the confidence reposed in me to lead this very important Command.” He added: “I accept this responsibility with a deep sense of duty and a firm commitment to the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service and the economic interest of our dear nation.” He said his administration would be guided by the Three (3) strategic pillars of the Comptroller-General of Customs (consolidation, collaboration and innovation) with particular emphasis on revenue integrity, efficient trade facilitation, professionalism and stakeholder engagement.
On revenue, Comptroller Mu’azu stated that “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 further assured stakeholders that the Command would deepen collaboration with importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, shipping companies, terminal operators, port authorities and partner government agencies, stressing that the Service is committed to making the Apapa port more efficient and responsive to legitimate trade.
The new CAC also declared his administration’s commitment to eliminating avoidable delays in cargo processing, stating that “Unnecessary human delays in cargo processing otherwise known as Non-Tariff Barriers shall not be tolerated henceforth.” He added that where all requirements had been met, legitimate cargo must be allowed to move without avoidable obstruction, while officers were expected to maintain discipline, professionalism, decorum and courtesy in their dealings with the trading public.
Comptroller Mu’azu acknowledged the record set by his predecessor, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba (Rtd), particularly in revenue generation. Under Oshoba, the Command recorded a historic monthly collection of ₦323 billion in July 2026 and a single-day collection of ₦28.102 billion on 18 August 2026. Acknowledging the challenge of sustaining the momentum, Mu’azu stated that, “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.”
The new Controller also commended Oshoba’s contributions to enforcement, trade facilitation and the implementation of the Service’s modernisation initiatives, including B’Odogwu, Advance Ruling, the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, One-Stop Shop and Non-Intrusive Inspection technology. On Advance Ruling, Oshoba had noted in his farewell address that the initiative “provides legitimate traders with greater predictability and clarity on Customs treatment before importation, thereby reducing uncertainty and strengthening confidence in the trading environment.”
In his farewell message, Comptroller Oshoba (Rtd) expressed appreciation to the officers, men and stakeholders of Apapa Area Command for their support throughout his tenure. He said: “The achievements recorded during my tenure do not belong to one individual. They belong to all of us.” He charged the officers to sustain the standards of the Command, stating that “Discipline must remain our foundation, professionalism our standard and excellence our aspiration.” He also urged them to extend the same support and cooperation to his successor.
In response, Comptroller Mu’azu urged officers and stakeholders to work collectively towards the continued success of the Command, stressing that “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 assured stakeholders of an open and constructive relationship founded on fairness, mutual respect and the national interest, expressing confidence that Apapa Area Command would continue to serve as a model of efficient revenue administration, legitimate trade facilitation and professional conduct.