Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu has assumed duty as the 33rd Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), pledging to sustain the Command’s gains in revenue generation, trade facilitation, enforcement and institutional discipline.
Mu’azu formally took over on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, during an assumption-of-office and farewell ceremony held at the Apapa Area Command Auditorium, attended by heads of security and regulatory agencies, government representatives, terminal operators, shipping and business stakeholders, customs brokers and other partners of the Command.
In his inaugural address, Mu’azu described his appointment as a “great honour and privilege,” expressing appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for the confidence reposed in him.
He said his administration would align its operations with the three strategic pillars of the Comptroller-General—consolidation, collaboration and innovation—with emphasis on revenue integrity, efficient trade facilitation, professionalism and stakeholder engagement.
Mu’azu stressed that every revenue due to government must be properly assessed and collected, adding that decisions taken by Customs officers must be transparent and capable of withstanding scrutiny.
He also pledged to deepen collaboration with importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, shipping companies, terminal operators, port authorities and other government agencies to make the Apapa Port more efficient and responsive to legitimate trade.
The new Controller declared that avoidable delays in cargo processing would no longer be tolerated, warning against what he described as unnecessary human delays, or non-tariff barriers.
According to him, where all statutory requirements have been fulfilled, legitimate cargo should be allowed to move without unnecessary obstruction, while officers are expected to maintain discipline, professionalism, courtesy and decorum in their dealings with stakeholders.
Mu’azu acknowledged the achievements recorded by his predecessor, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba (Rtd), particularly in revenue generation, noting that the Command recorded a historic monthly collection of ₦323 billion in July 2026 and a single-day collection of ₦28.102 billion on August 18, 2026.
He described the figures as records that would require a concerted effort to sustain and surpass, stressing that matching the performance would be a major task for his administration and team.
The new CAC 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.
Earlier in his farewell address, Oshoba expressed appreciation to officers, men and stakeholders of the Command for their support during his tenure, stressing that the achievements recorded were the collective efforts of the entire Command.
He charged officers to maintain discipline and professionalism, while urging them to extend the same support and cooperation to his successor.
Responding, Mu’azu called for collective commitment from officers and stakeholders, stressing that the success of the Command could not be achieved by the CAC alone.
He assured stakeholders that his administration would maintain an open and constructive relationship based on fairness, mutual respect and the national interest, with the objective of positioning Apapa Area Command as a model for efficient revenue administration, legitimate trade facilitation and professional conduct.
