Apapa Customs Collects ₦161bn in 3 Weeks, Comptroller Olomu Reassures Stakeholders of System Stability
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has reported a remarkable revenue collection of ₦161,258,483,474.63 within three weeks with the new Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), known as B’Odogwu.
This was disclosed in a press release signed by the command’s public relations officer on 25th August, 2025.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, assured stakeholders that the platform will soon overcome its current challenges and exceed expectations.
Comptroller Olomu acknowledged the temporary hitches experienced since the rollout of B’Odogwu but emphasised that significant progress is being made to resolve them. According to him, the impressive revenue collected between August 1 and August 22, 2025, is an evidence of the platform’s potential to revolutionise customs operations once fully optimised.
Olomu’s reassurances follow a series of intensive stakeholder engagements led by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, aimed at addressing concerns arising from the system’s initial teething problems. Olomu commended the patience, understanding, and cooperation of stakeholders, particularly those operating within the Apapa Command, during the transition period.
He further expressed optimism about the platform’s long term viability, noting that the NCS ICT department has been working tirelessly to identify and rectify performance issues affecting the system. He added that B’Odogwu has the capacity to facilitate more trade than any of the previous customs automation platforms used by the Service.
He disclosed that the CGC has maintained open lines of dialogue with key government agencies. Notably, discussions have been ongoing with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council to stop the impact of recent system downtime on port users.
In a demonstration of commitment, the Zonal Coordinator, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs,Charles Orbih, visited the Apapa Command in person to address importers, licensed customs agents, and freight forwarders, reassuring them of the Service’s dedication to resolving outstanding issues.
Olomu also highlighted steps being taken to minimise delays and clear the backlog caused by the system’s downtime. These include the deployment of customs officers for extended duty hours, including weekends, to fast-track pending clearances and reduce processing time.
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