…Olomu dedicates the awards to his officers and men for their dedicated commitment!
BY GODWIN OBI
In a dazzling celebration of excellence, the Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, led by the indomitable Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, was bestowed with three prestigious awards at the illustrious Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Award Night in Abuja recently. The evening, held under a canopy of stars, was a spectacle of recognition and reverence, where Olomu emerged as the brightest luminary.
Amidst applause and admiration from colleagues, friends, and stakeholders, Olomu stood as the undisputed star of the evening. He was named the “Best Controller of the Year,” an honor that reflected his visionary leadership and his remarkable ability to enhance the Apapa Command’s capacity to fulfill its vital duties at Nigeria’s flagship port. Under his guidance, the command soared to new heights, outshining even the most ambitious of expectations.
At the glittering ceremony, hosted by the CGC himself, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, the Apapa Port Command was celebrated not only for its outstanding revenue collection but also for its steadfast efforts in anti-smuggling and trade facilitation. For the first time in the command’s storied history, it generated an unprecedented N2 trillion in revenue for the government as of November 20, 2024. This monumental achievement was a testament to Olomu’s relentless pursuit of excellence, even in the face of global economic challenges and fluctuating trade volumes.
The secret to this triumph, Olomu revealed, lay in the meticulous attention to detail and constant vigilance. His approach was hands-on, with daily evaluations and a commitment to ensuring that every officer adhered to the highest standards—arriving early, processing entries swiftly, conducting thorough examinations, and upholding the integrity of their duties.
With the shimmering awards in his hands, Comptroller Olomu humbly dedicated the accolades to the hardworking officers and staff of the Apapa Port Command. He spoke passionately about the collective effort that made these successes possible, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, dedication, and focus. “No leader,” he said, “can achieve greatness alone. The true strength lies in the support of every team member.”
As the evening unfolded, Olomu took a moment to thank the CGC for his unwavering support, acknowledging Adeniyi as a beacon of inspiration. He called upon all Customs officers to view these awards not as the culmination of their work, but as a call to greater heights, a challenge to continue striving for even more impressive feats.
With the festive air still hanging, Olomu also turned his attention to the wider community, urging all port users to recommit themselves to national service. “Let us be law-abiding, vigilant, and proactive,” he urged. “Report any unlawful activities, and together, we shall build a safer, more efficient port.”
Olomu reserved special praise for the importers and exporters who have contributed to Apapa Port’s success during his tenure, particularly the trailblazers in the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He encouraged Nigerian businesses to seize the opportunity presented by the ease of doing business reforms and invited them to embrace the simplified processes now in place under the CGC’s modernization efforts.
“These awards are not the end, but the beginning,” Olomu declared. “They are a call to action, a challenge to work harder, to dream bigger, and to continue building on our momentum. Compliance with regulations saves time, money, and builds integrity. It is the path to recognition and growth within the global trade community.”
As the night drew to a close, the applause for Comptroller Olomu and the Apapa Port Command echoed like a resounding promise: a promise that the future of Nigeria’s customs will continue to shine ever brighter, guided by the steady hand of a leader who knows that excellence is not a destination, but a journey.
While thanking the CGC for the honour bestowed on the command, Comptroller Olomu said as the number one Customs Officer in Nigeria, the CGC Adeniyi had been a source of inspiration and a good example for all officers to emulate.
He further described the award as a motivation for selflessness, a call for increased commitment and a challenge to sustain and improve the tempo of work at the command which will cascade to all bonded terminals attached to it.
The Controller also urged all port users to rededicate themselves to national service by being law-abiding and reporting suspected unlawful acts in the port to the service and other security agencies.
Comptroller Olomu had earlier lauded import and export traders who have used Apapa Port within the period of his leadership and implored them to operate in full compliance with the guidelines for their trade. He specifically commented on exporters who pioneered export activities under the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Olomu urged more Nigerian businessmen and women to take advantage of the ease of doing business initiative to use Apapa Port. He invited them to tap into the simplified procedures being emplaced by the CGC under an evolving modernisation regime to trade seamlessly.
The CAC admonished officers of the command not to see the awards of The Best Command of the Year, The best Command in Revenue Collection and the Best Customs Area Controller as the end of hard work but as a motivation and challenge to work harder
He reminded them that compliance saves money, saves time, builds integrity for positive profiling and helps in recognition for upgrade to the authorised economic operator (AEO) status
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