Maritime business sector stakeholders show deep concern about who takes charge as the next Customs Area Controller (CAC) at the Premier Port, Apapa Area 1 Customs Command, following the expected promotion and imminent retirement of the incumbent CAC, Emmanuel Oshoba in the coming weeks, this is even as the intense struggle and lobbying by some South west officers to take up the plum job worries analysts
By Our Correspondent
Events happening within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in the recent times are getting as interesting as they are exciting, maritime business analysts insist. These events are happening in the days when the unusual envelopes the tax collecting agency- mass retirement of 99 percent of its old-generation officers, including the sitting Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
As the saying goes that “Anything that has beginning must have an end”, time has set in for these eminent senior officers to call it quits with the service of their fatherland, in droves, leaving the Service in the hands of the new-generation officers. Feelers from the presidency indicate that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may appoint one of the management officers of South west extraction to take over from the sitting CGC, Adeniyi who would be bowing out of the Service in August. The next CGC, it was gathered, would be a bridge that would link the new-generation officers to take full charge of the management having been promoted to the management ranks within the tenure of the incoming CGC.
While the gale of mass retirement looms, the business community has advised the CGC not to allow tribal, ethnic or regional sentiments to determine who the next Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Apapa Area 1 Command would be. The Apapa Area 1 Command is in charge of the country’s Premier Port, Apapa Lagos.
The stakeholders insisted that the next CAC of Apapa Area 1 Command must be an officer with a track record of zero tolerance for corruption and primitive acquisition of the mundane, one with impeccable character, patriotic and committed to securing the nation and government revenue.
As the serving CAC of the Command, Emmanuel Oshoba allegedly prepares for his elevation to the rank of Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) and imminent retirement in the coming weeks, certain Deputy Comptrollers and Comptrollers with alleged questionable conducts have begun to position themselves to take up the strategic job at the Apapa Area 1 Command. The Premier Port which the Apapa Customs Command oversees, is strategic to the government because of the quantum of revenue that accrues from there. The port is also a hotbed of smuggling activities and other illicit trading acts. Hence, analysts stress that the nation would be risking a lot in terms of security threats and revenue losses if some desperate, inefficient officer who is in love with the filthy lucre is posted to man the number one Customs Command in the country.
Numerous stakeholders have advised the CGC to the effect that competency, deep knowledge of the port, impersonal service that can secure government revenue and clean performance record must not be sacrificed on the altar of tribal and regional considerations in deciding the next CAC of the Command.
The intense lobbying for who would head the Apapa Area 1 Customs Command has got many tongues wagging. At the time of filing this report, a few officers (names withheld) have been identified who may have found favour with the CGC, and are waiting in the wings to be appointed. One is a Comptroller who is serving at the headquarters, Abuja while another one is a Deputy Comptroller (DC) (names withheld) who occupies a gate- keeping position presently at the Premier Port.
Many clearing agents who spoke on the subject matter said most of those subtly positioning themselves to take over the Apapa Area 1 Command leadership have tendency for corruption and may constitute revenue and security risk to the nation if appointed. According to observers, they have not the required discipline and capacity to promote trade facilitation at the Premier Port, and may prefer enriching themselves at the expense of national security which will in turn flood the country with illicit and dangerous imports.
The management of Customs under Adeniyi has witnessed tremendous improvement in the areas of trade facilitation, revenue generation and national security of which the Apapa Area Command has remained at the forefront. The revolution in these cardinal areas hit the Command starting from the era of now retired ACG Yusuf Mallanta who led the Command to hit a record N1 trillion revenue.
Currently serving ACG (Dr.) Babatunde Olomu was appointed CAC Apapa in 2024 and he brought along and unusual charisma, suave, discipline and hard work which translated into the trillions, trillions era at the Command. Olomu became the most popular, most charismatic and most successful CAC ever to head the Apapa Area 1 Command before his elevation to the rank of ACG. Olomu became a workaholic whom stakeholders eulogized for his charming leadership, and reiterated that he was able to squeeze revenue out of the “rocks”, a reference to the reforms he entrenched. These reforms were to liquidate the activities of smugglers who used the port for nefarious activities.
Thus, stakeholders have called on the CGC to look beyond sentiments and locate the likes of Olomu, a detribalized officer, in the ranks of the new-generation officers who will be able to sustain the legacies left behind by Mallanta and Olomu respectively.
Meanwhile, Comptroller Oshoba has charged officers and men of the Command to intensify revenue generation, strengthen anti-smuggling operations and uphold professionalism and discipline in the discharge of their duties.
Comptroller Oshoba gave the charge during the Command’s monthly parade held on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, at the Command headquarters in Apapa, Lagos.
The Area Controller emphasized the need for greater operational interventions across terminals to block revenue leakages while ensuring seamless trade facilitation and timely cargo clearance.
“Officers must protect the reputation of the Service. That is why any delay by any officer concerning any consignment will not be tolerated. Even at the gates. If a consignment is duly exited, there should be no delay at the gates,” he stated.
He also urged officers to remain accessible and professional in their dealings with stakeholders.
“You must make yourself accessible to our stakeholders and we must avoid actions capable of tarnishing the good image of the Service and the good work being done by the CGC and members of his management. We should not be seen as slugs in the wheels of progress,” Oshoba added.
The CAC further called for heightened vigilance against smuggling activities, especially illicit drugs and prohibited items, while warning officers against misconduct and improper dressing.
Highlight of the parade was the recognition of outstanding Officers and Units for exemplary service. Assistant Comptroller of Customs Ismail Mohammed emerged as the Most Outstanding Officer of the Month, while CSC Augustine Ondoma, ASCI Bukola Olaleye and IC Olalekan Salawu were recognized for professionalism, innovation and punctuality respectively.
Similarly, officers of APM Terminal received the Excellence Award on Enforcement, while Officers of ECO Support Terminal received the Excellence Award on Revenue Generation.
Comptroller Oshoba explained that the award initiative was introduced to encourage hard work, excellence, professionalism and healthy competition among Officers and Units of the Command. These were contained in a press release issued by Isah Sulaiman, Chief Superintendent of Customs and Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Command.
