Apapa Customs Rakes In N1.172trn In 2023
By Asuquo Nuwak
Apapa Customs Rakes In N1.172trn In 2023
••Exceeds revenue target
•••Decorates 74 officers
The Apapa Port Customs Area Command, under the leadership of Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba, has successfully collected a staggering sum of N1.172trillion as revenue in 2023.
The revenue figure was made available by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba, during decoration of newly promoted officers and men of the command in Lagos.
He acknowledged their significant contributions to the unprecedented revenue collection.
Comptroller Jaiyeoba disclosed that upon assumption of duty in September 2023, he recognized the need for strategic measures to meet revenue targets. He initiated daily strategic meetings, and officers, serving as terminal or sectional heads, played a pivotal role in achieving the set goals.
In his words: “When i assumed duty in September 2023, I discovered that we were far from realising our revenue collection target, so we thought out strategies on the way forward”.
“We embarked on daily strategic meetings and these officers who were part of the team as terminal or sectional heads pushed to ensure we met the target. That is why we are honouring them today”.
Comptroller Jaiyeoba, who expressed great gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Mr Adewale Adeniyi, also commended the customs boss for prioritizing the welfare of officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service.
He highlighted Adeniyi’s commitment to fulfilling the promise of timely promotions for officers, a promise that has now been fulfilled.
Going further he said. “Today, i am expressing my gratitude to the CGC for this and also commends officers and men of the service, especially those of Apapa Command for their contributions to the service.
“Promotion does not come from anybody but from God and from hard work in active service; promotion means more work, so more is required of you”.
While addressing the promoted officers, Jaiyeoba emphasized that promotions are a result of hard work and active service, signaling an increased responsibility for the newly promoted individuals.
Jaiyeoba further encouraged officers not promoted not to despair, but to be more dedicated to their jobs as there was always another chance for promotion.
He said: “With this promotion, more is expected from us in terms of revenue collection because soon, revenue target will be issued and we should understand that the target will increase”.
The Director of the Department of State Security, Apapa Command, Mr Nasiru Ibrahim, in his goodwill message, expressed optimism for the Customs Service in 2024.
He urged the promoted officers to remain loyal, focused, and dedicated to their duties, citing the connection between promotions and revenue collection targets.
He said: “Promotion in the Customs Service comes with revenue collection target and the promoted officers need to be loyal, focused and dedicated to their duties”.
He noted that: “The service has a CGC that connects with all stakeholders, therefore, all officers should connect with stakeholders for the service to grow further”.
Another stakeholder who witnessed the ceremony, Mr Akeem Olanrewaju, advised customs officers to prioritize attitudinal change, emphasizing the importance of decorum in their professional and personal engagements.
He stressed the significance of transparent communication, especially when holding customers’ cargo.
In his words: “Customs officers have the right to do their job, but they should do it with decorum. If they are holding customer’s cargo, explanations should be given on why the cargo is held so that there will not be any issue”.
In conclusion, a total of 74 officers were promoted at the Apapa Command during the ceremony, marking a positive start to the year for the Nigeria Customs Service.
