A send-off party was held at the Command in honour of the CAC on Friday, 3 May 2024.

BY GODWIN OBI

Officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, as well as stakeholders within the environs, have extolled the Customs Area Controller Apapa Command, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba, as he takes a bow after 35 years of dedicated service.

The event had in attendance the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs/Zonal Coordinator Zone A, Hammi Swomen, Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya, Comptroller Caroline Ayo, Commissioner of Police, Western Port Authority Command, Olanrenwaju, Ishola, Representatives of sister agencies, stakeholders, as well as family and friends.

In his goodwill message, ACG Swomen congratulated Comptroller Jaiyeoba on his retirement while also commending the recent innovations and achievements of the Command.

He said, “We are highly impressed by the innovations and the things that are happening here since the last time we came. I would like to thank all the Officers and Men of the Command because, without your support, it would have been difficult to achieve all these”.

Guests and stakeholders, as well as officers, described the Area Controller as an astute administrator and leader who always showed a willingness to teach his subordinates.

In his remarks, Comptroller Jaiyeoba appreciated God for a successful 35 years of meritorious service.

In his words, “I give all glory, all honour to God, Almighty. And I also thank the Officers and Men of Apapa Command and our stakeholders for your cooperation. We came, we told you our agenda, and you keyed into it, and together, we delivered”. He said.

COMPTROLLER B.O OLOMU

“I can boldly say since January till now, there has been an increase in revenue collection. We set a target for ourselves, beat it, and reset another target, which, before we know it, we have also beaten it.

Because of the cooperation, because of the commitment and because of the will, all of us have to deliver. And I must say I thank all of us for that”.

The CAC further urged Officers and stakeholders to extend the same cooperation to the incoming Customs Area Controller.

“We have set a standard in Apapa Command, and with or without Comptroller Jaiyeoba, we must maintain that standard. I want to plead with us that whoever is coming to take over, the same cooperation you extended to me, I want us to give the same or more than that cooperation so that together, you can deliver”.

Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba hails from Oyo state and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos.

Olomu takes over, promises to implement new Customs Act, CET at Apapa Port

The new Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller BO Olomu, has promised to ensure full implementation of all provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the Common External Tariff (CET), import and export prohibition guidelines, and other books of instruction.

B.O Olomu made the promise while taking over the leadership of the Command today in Lagos and gave an assurance that he would build on the successes of his predecessor.

The new Controller maintained that his administration would exhibit zero tolerance for smuggling of prohibited items, concealment, and declaration for duty evasion, noting that he saw has appointment as a serious task from the Comptroller General of Customs to deliver diligently.

According to Olomu, “I see my task as CAC Apapa command as a serious assignment from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR dsm psc (+) of which our only option is to deliver diligently not only in revenue collection, fight against smuggling, but in trade facilitation and sustainable stakeholder engagement.

“My assumption of this office is with a mind of confidence that we won’t betray the trust reposed in us by the FGN, CGC and the entire management of the Nigeria Customs Service. This confidence is premised on the reality that I am taking over a very organized command, where I intend to build on the successes of my predecessor.

“Let me state unequivocally that we shall implement all the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the Common External Tariff, import and export prohibition guidelines, and other books of instruction as directed by the FGN.

“While promoting a robust customs community relation system where there will be regular interface with all government and private sector stakeholders, I shall upscale our enforcement with intelligence to ensure that only legitimate trade is allowed in Apapa Port and all the terminals within the command.

“Our tolerance level for smuggling of prohibited items, concealment, and declaration for duty evasion shall be zero and shall remain so.

“Our country holds a strategic position for trade in West and Central Africa and Apapa Port is critical in Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). We are rewing Nigeria’s readiness for improved trade with fellow African countries and the world at large.”

He added that the management of the command is committed to evolving a more modern customs with Apapa Port being a nucleus to the implementation of the many trade facilitation reforms championed by the Comptroller-General of Customs.

“I want to urge our officers to brace up for the changes that will feature as fallouts of customs modernization, otherwise called e-customs, AEO, and many other groundbreaking World Customs Organization innovations like the recently introduced advanced ruling policy.

“This will enable them to enjoy more gains of trading across borders in the global supply chain in line with the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC), the WCO Supply Chain Management Guidelines, and the various national best practices.

“As a working principle, I hereby advise all our officers to treat all official matters with the speed they deserve leaving no file unattended to as such delays could mean slowing down government revenue inflow.

“I shall emplace a trade dispute resolution seat that will operate every day including weekends to ensure that we make this command a true front liner in global best practices in terms of customs operation for other customs formations to emulate.

“Being the customs command handling the largest volume of trade in Nigeria, Apapa Command under my leadership won’t be complacent and will be open to continuous engagement with everyone. My doors are open for advice on how best to achieve our mandate because we are all here to add value and do better for Nigeria,” said Olomu.