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New Apapa Customs Boss Mu’azu Assumes Office, Declares Zero Tolerance for Non-Tariff Barriers and Cargo Delays
By Prince Benson Davies
There has been a change of leadership at Nigeria’s premier port command as Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu has officially assumed duty as the 33rd Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command, with a firm commitment to build on existing achievements and raise the bar in revenue generation, trade facilitation and enforcement.
The handover ceremony, which also served as a farewell for the outgoing Controller, was held on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, at the Apapa Command Auditorium. The event attracted a large gathering of heads of security and regulatory agencies, representatives of government, terminal operators, shipping companies, licensed customs agents and other critical port stakeholders who came to honour both the outgoing and incoming Controllers.
In his maiden address, Comptroller Mu’azu described his appointment as a great honour and privilege, expressing profound appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, fnipr, psc+, for the confidence reposed in him. He said his administration would be anchored on the Service’s three strategic pillars of consolidation, collaboration and innovation, with strong emphasis on revenue integrity, seamless trade facilitation, professionalism and robust stakeholder engagement.
On revenue collection, the new CAC was unequivocal, stating that every kobo due to government must be properly assessed and collected, and that every decision taken by officers must be able to stand the test of scrutiny over time. He assured the trading public of deeper collaboration with importers, exporters, customs brokers, shipping lines, terminal operators, the Nigerian Ports Authority and other partner agencies to ensure that Apapa Port remains efficient, competitive and responsive to legitimate trade.
Mu’azu also declared zero tolerance for artificial bottlenecks in cargo clearance, warning that unnecessary human delays, often described as Non-Tariff Barriers, would no longer be tolerated under his watch. According to him, once statutory requirements are met, legitimate cargo must be allowed to move without obstruction, while officers are expected to uphold discipline, courtesy and professionalism at all times.
The new Controller paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba (Rtd), for setting enviable records at the Command. He recalled that under Oshoba, Apapa Command achieved a historic monthly revenue collection of N323 billion in July 2026 and a single-day record of N28.102 billion on 18 August 2026. Mu’azu described the feat as a record to reckon with and a Herculean task to match and surpass.
He further lauded Oshoba’s contributions to enforcement, trade facilitation and the successful implementation of modernization initiatives such as the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, Advance Ruling, Authorised Economic Operator Programme, One-Stop Shop and Non-Intrusive Inspection technology.
In his farewell remarks, Comptroller Oshoba noted that the Advance Ruling system provides legitimate traders with greater predictability and clarity on Customs treatment before importation, thereby reducing uncertainty and strengthening confidence in the trading environment. He thanked officers and stakeholders for their support throughout his tenure and stressed that the Command’s achievements were a product of collective effort.
“Discipline must remain our foundation, professionalism our standard, and excellence our aspiration,” Oshoba charged, while urging stakeholders to extend the same cooperation to his successor.
In his response, Mu’azu called for collective responsibility and integrity, noting that the success of the Command cannot be achieved by the CAC alone. He assured stakeholders of an open and constructive relationship built on fairness, mutual respect and national interest, expressing confidence that under his leadership, Apapa Command will continue to serve as a model for efficient revenue administration, legitimate trade facilitation and professional conduct.
