Apapa Is Moving Again: Mu’azu Delivers ₦302.9 Billion, Crushes Delays, Smashes Drug Ring In First Month
Apapa Is Moving Again: Mu’azu Delivers ₦302.9 Billion, Crushes Delays, Smashes Drug Ring In First Month
… As New CAC Warns Against Delays, Illicit Trade_
By Success Okezie
Apapa Port is witnessing a new kind of leadership — firm on enforcement, fast on facilitation, and friendly to legitimate trade.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, recorded a strong revenue haul of *₦302,952,570,769.24* in October 2026. This marks a *7.13 percent increase* (or *₦20,161,430,521.84*) compared to the *₦282,791,140,247.40* generated in September 2026.
The October figure marks the second time the Command has crossed the ₦300 billion threshold under its current leadership, following a record-breaking collection of over ₦323 billion in July 2026.
The milestone highlights a steady push to boost government revenue while accelerating legitimate trade, spearheaded by the Customs Area Controller (CAC), *Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu*, who assumed office on September 29, 2026.
But for those who operate daily at the port, the revenue is only part of the story. The bigger story is the change in attitude, the change in pace, and the change in how traders are treated.
In his bid to prioritize stakeholder engagement, the Controller emphasized that his Command will be sticking strictly to the Comptroller-General of Customs’ policy thrust of Consolidation, Collaboration, and Innovation.
Comptroller Mu’azu has made direct industry engagement a cornerstone of his first month.
On October 5, 2026, the Command hosted a major multi-stakeholder forum convening importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, shipping lines, and terminal operators. The meeting tackled persistent port bottlenecks, including Demurrage and Demand Notice delays, cargo clearance bottlenecks, and examination delays that have for years increased the cost of doing business.
It was an open, frank and practical session. No long speeches. No empty promises. Just real problems, real answers, and real commitments.
Beyond the town hall, Mu’azu has paid courtesy visits to key maritime partners to bridge communication gaps and foster a more predictable trading environment. The visits, according to officials, are part of a deliberate strategy to rebuild trust, strengthen institutional relationships, and create a port where traders and Customs work as partners, not adversaries.
Also streamlining operations and cutting red tape, as part of a push for operational efficiency, the Command is overhauling its processing of Transire documents. The initiative aims to wipe out redundant bureaucratic steps and improve inter-departmental coordination without weakening compliance.
Speaking on the initiative, Comptroller Mu’azu stated:
“Under my leadership, the Command has intensified efforts to review and streamline the processing of Transire. This initiative is also driven by my commitment to trade facilitation and the need to address operational inefficiencies that could subject traders to unnecessary delays and hardship.”
He added pointedly:
“Traders should not suffer the consequences of avoidable administrative lapses or delays.”
It was a statement that struck a chord with port users who have long complained that administrative lapses on the part of officials end up becoming financial burdens on traders.
To keep cargo moving smoothly, Mu’azu has ordered that physical cargo examinations strictly follow standard operating procedures under the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.
He explicitly warned officers against redundant, repetitive, or punitive inspections that stall legitimate commerce, urging personnel to balance strict revenue protection with swift service delivery.
Officers have been charged to discharge their responsibilities promptly and professionally, without compromising compliance, revenue protection or national security.
The Command is also strengthening coordination among relevant departments and port stakeholders to address operational bottlenecks affecting cargo movement.
In essence, enforcement must be firm, but it must also be fair, timely, and predictable.
On the anti-smuggling and enforcement front, the Command clamped down on illicit trafficking.
Officers intercepted *437 sachets of Cannabis Sativa (weighing a combined 392.5 kg)* hidden inside two separate containers:
– *Container No. MSKU0486747:* 162 sachets (125 kg)
– *Container No. TEMU6149358:* 275 sachets (267.5 kg)
The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized narcotics is *₦196,131,606.82*.
The seizures were executed via joint examinations alongside partner security and regulatory agencies, reinforcing zero tolerance for drug smuggling through the Apapa maritime gateway.
It was a clear and unmistakable warning that while Apapa is opening its doors wider for legitimate trade, it is shutting them firmly against criminals.
The Apapa Area Command pledges to maintain its twin mandate: driving record-setting revenue growth while creating a seamless, secure, and business-friendly port ecosystem.
Under Comptroller Mu’azu’s leadership, the Command will continue to pursue a balanced approach that protects government revenue and national security while creating an enabling environment for legitimate trade and economic growth.
One month in, Apapa has seen revenue rise, delays come under attack, traders get a listening ear, and traffickers get a bloody nose.
If this is just the beginning, then Nigeria’s flagship port may be on its way to its most efficient era yet
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