- Oshoba Bows Out In Glory, Says Achievements Belong To All
By Babajide Okeowo
Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu has assumed duty as the 33rd Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Apapa Area Command, promising to build on the command’s revenue, enforcement and trade facilitation gains while eliminating avoidable delays in cargo clearance.
Mu’azu made the commitment on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, during the assumption-of-office and farewell ceremony held at the Apapa Customs Command auditorium, where he took over from Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba (Rtd).
The ceremony brought together heads of security and regulatory agencies, representatives of government agencies, terminal operators, shipping and business stakeholders, customs brokers and other partners of the command.
The new CAC described his appointment as “a great honour and privilege,” thanking the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for the confidence reposed in him.
He pledged to align his administration with the three strategic pillars of the Nigeria Customs Service leadership—consolidation, collaboration and innovation—with emphasis on revenue integrity, efficient trade facilitation, professionalism and stakeholder engagement.
‘Every Revenue Due Government Must Be Collected’
Mu’azu declared that revenue collection would remain a critical priority under his watch, warning that every financial obligation 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.
He also promised deeper engagement with importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, shipping companies, terminal operators, port authorities and other government agencies to make Apapa Port more efficient and responsive to legitimate trade.
But the new Controller’s strongest warning was reserved for 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 said cargo for which all statutory requirements had been met must be allowed to move without avoidable obstruction, while officers must demonstrate discipline, professionalism, courtesy and decorum in their dealings with the trading public.
Mu’azu Faces ₦323bn Revenue Benchmark
The incoming Controller acknowledged that he was inheriting a command with a formidable revenue record under Oshoba.
During Oshoba’s tenure, Apapa Customs recorded a historic ₦323 billion monthly revenue collection in July 2026, followed by a record ₦28.102 billion single-day collection on August 18, 2026.
Mu’azu admitted that matching the performance would be a major challenge.
“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 Customs modernisation initiatives, including B’Odogwu, Advance Ruling, the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, One-Stop Shop and Non-Intrusive Inspection technology.
The new CAC said he would seek to consolidate those gains while pursuing further improvements in revenue administration and legitimate trade.
Oshoba: Achievements Belong To All
In his farewell address, Oshoba said the achievements recorded during his tenure were the product of collective effort by officers and stakeholders rather than the work of an individual.
“The achievements recorded during my tenure do not belong to one individual. They belong to all of us,” he said.
He urged officers to sustain the standards established during his tenure, declaring: “Discipline must remain our foundation, professionalism our standard and excellence our aspiration.”
Oshoba also called for continued cooperation with his successor to ensure that the command maintains its momentum.
Responding, Mu’azu stressed that the task ahead required collective responsibility, insisting that the CAC alone could not deliver the desired results.
“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.
He promised an open and constructive relationship with stakeholders based on fairness, mutual respect and the national interest.
The new Controller expressed confidence that Apapa Area Command would continue to serve as a model for efficient revenue administration, legitimate trade facilitation and professional conduct.
The ceremony was attended by stakeholders across the maritime and business sectors as the command began a new phase under Mu’azu’s leadership.
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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.
