The CAC of the Apapa Area Command, Comptroller EOA Oshoba.
Story by Dili Utomi
The need for data-driven processes, continuous process of training of all officers and men of the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service and the general prevailing desire for automation
necessitated the building of a modern facility. These coupled with the innovative steps of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi gave the impetus for the Command to build an analytical centre.
The CG was in Lagos to commission the centre and took time to declare the most recent seizures made under the Command.
The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba while speaking at the commissioning of the centre had said “The magnificent two-storey building we see today, proudly named the CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Analytical Arena, has been designed with a futuristic, data-driven approach to border security. It is designed to house critical, tactical and operational components of our Command, including:
• The State-of-the-art Analytics Centre of excellence
• The Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU).
• The Command’s Clinic, to ensure the health and well-being of our personnel.
• Other key strategic offices”.
“This infrastructure is a direct reflection of the vision of our Comptroller-General to leverage modern technology and analytics to fight smuggling, secure our nation and facilitate legitimate trade. This project is a tangible success story of the Customs-PACT (Partnership for Cooperation in Trade) as championed by our CGC”.
The CG on his part, while speaking generally said “In recent months, the Service has been working closely with government agencies and industry stakeholders to address the persistent challenge of port congestion and improve efficiency across Nigeria’s maritime gateways. Measures such as the recent launch of the Green Channel at Lekki Deep Seaport are part of our broader strategy to accelerate cargo clearance for compliant traders and strengthen enforcement against high-risk consignments. Today’s engagement should therefore be seen as part of that continuing effort to modernize our cargo control processes”.
It was revealed that over the past year, the Service has intensified the deployment of technology-driven enforcement tools, particularly Non-Intrusive Inspection systems (scanning), to strengthen cargo examination procedures and improve efficiency at the ports. These systems enable officers to examine containerised cargo rapidly, detect anomalies in declarations and identify suspicious consignments without unnecessarily disrupting legitimate trade flows.
Current operational data from Apapa Port shows that 3,236 consignments were processed through the Orange channel (Non-Intrusive Inspection – scanning), 5,490 through the Yellow channel (documentary checks), while a significantly higher 21,373 consignments were subjected to full physical examination under the Red channel.
Additionally, 1,118 consignments passed through the Blue channel and 149 through the Green channel, reflecting varying levels of facilitation based on compliance and risk profiling.
The above distribution clearly indicates that physical examination still dominates cargo control procedures, reinforcing the need to expand the use of scanning technology. Strengthening non-intrusive inspection and combining it with intelligence-driven risk management, will enable the Service
concentrate physical examinations on high-risk shipments and facilitate faster clearance for compliant traders.
The CG noted that “Our strategic objective is therefore to significantly increase the proportion of cargo subjected to scanning across all major entry points in Nigeria before the end of the year, including Apapa, Tin Can Island, Port Harcourt, Onne, Calabar and other operational commands. This shift will enhance enforcement accuracy, reduce port congestion and support our broader goal of facilitating legitimate trade while maintaining robust border control”.
He detailed the most recently seized items as:
a. A 40-foot container (HASU 4072659) conveying large quantities
of expired pharmaceutical products including Mixagrip Cold Caplets,
Ladinax tablets, Chloroquine injections and Diclofenac tablets.
b. Two 40-foot containers (MRSU 4584911 and MRSU 6913370)
conveying large consignments of Hyegra 200 and Sildenafil Citrate
unregistered pharmaceuticals.
c. A 20-foot container (MRKU 8830266) conveying 800 cartons of
Codeine (TPL CSC) deliberately concealed inside toilet flushing cisterns and sanitary ware.
d. A 40-foot container (MRSU 5147562) conveying cartons of Artesunate 60 injections.
e. A 20-foot container (PCIU 286888) conveying restricted security
equipment without End User Certificates, including bulletproof vests,
helmets, walkie-talkies and tactical torches.
8. Additional seizures include:
a. A 20-foot container (TCLU 3819607) conveying expired muffin cookie biscuits.
b. A 20-foot container (UGMU 8692902) containing 36,000 cans of expired Primo energy drinks.
c. A 20-foot container (SUDU 1696593) 4 loaded with expired St. Kelvin tomato paste.
d. Another 20-foot container (TCLU 1923314) containing expired De Truth tomato paste.
e. A 40-foot container (TCNU 7257465) containing 1,700 cartons of Codeine cough syrup concealed with luxury food flasks.
CGC Adeniyi making a presentation.
Another 40-foot container (CAAU 8375050) was found to contain 1,575 cartons of CSMIX with codeine concealed with 156 cartons of electric kettles, alongside additional pharmaceutical seizures including 13 cartons of Bristol brand Co-codamol 500mg and 2 cartons of Zevita brand Co-codamol 500mg. Officers also intercepted 13 jumbo bags of Cannabis Sativa (Colorado) weighing 347.57kg concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle with Chassis No. 5TDDK3DC7DS057669.
He noted that “Collectively, these seizures amount to ₦6,381,237,988.00 (Six Billion, Three Hundred and Eighty-One Million, Two Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Eight Naira) worth of prohibited, expired and falsely declared goods. The importation of expired drugs and controlled substances poses a direct threat to public health, while the concealment of codeine-based products represents a calculated attempt to fuel substance abuse and undermine our healthcare system”.
The CG also warned would-be smugglers that Apapa Port is no longer a playground for smugglers and criminal syndicates hiding behind legitimate trade documentation. In accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, these consignments are liable to outright forfeiture, while penalties will be imposed, evaded revenues recovered and all persons connected to the shipments will face prosecution.
To compliant traders and investors, he reiterates that the Customs enforcement is not against legitimate trade, but that it is against criminality. “Those who comply with the law will continue to enjoy facilitation and predictability. The CG concluded.
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