…Promises Robust Stakeholders Engagement
Comptroller Babatunde Olomu has taken over mantle of leadership of Apapa Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service from Cmptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba.
Comptroller Jaiyeoba hands over to Olomu at retirement on Monday 6th May 2024 after leading the premier port for almost eight months.
In his handling over speech, Comptroller Jaiyeoba described his 8 months tenure of leading Apapa Area Command as joyful and suspense-filled experience which is characterized by exciting moments culminating into tangible results for the benefit of the nation.
Highlighting some of his achievements in year 2024, Jaiyeoba disclosed that between January and April, the Command collected a total of N672,172,624,033.03 as revenue for the federal government.
In his words”We have set the ball rolling for the actualization of our target and the officers I am leaving behind are focused on this. My optimism is not misplaced because we have all proven to be tested and trusted.
“It is noteworthy, to explain that in the month of April 2024 alone, the command generated N182 billion which is a record-breaking monthly collection in the history of the service. On February 23, 2024, we recorded revenue collection milestone by generating N16,021,660,412.00. This daily collection strengthened our cumulative figure.
“These are laudable developments coming at a time the port is not enjoying its full import trade potentials owing to so many factors,”
He however appreciate his officers for relentlessly pursuing maximum collection of duty by preventing leakages, fighting against smuggling and ensuring that complaint traders enjoyed hitch free clearance under customs control during his leadership.
While imploring all the command officers, other government agencies and stakeholders to join him in formally welcoming Comptroller Olomu, he urged them to triple or possibly, quadruple the cooperation and support he got to his successor.
According to him ‘His success is our common benefit. For over three decades, I have known him to be a team player and result-oriented officer,” Jaiyeoba said.
Giving his acceptance remark, the new Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu hinted that Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and robust engagements with port stakeholders is his major goals as the new boss of the Command.
Comptroller Olomu noted that Nigeria holds a strategic position for trade in West and Central Africa, assuring that Apapa Port will play a critical role in Nigeria’s participation in the AfCFTA.
According to the new Command boss “We are revving Nigeria’s readiness for improved trade with fellow African countries and the world at large.
“As you may be aware, the management of the service 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, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR.”
“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 (WCO) 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.”
He advised the officers to adopt a working principle to treat all official matters speedily, adding that no file should be left unattended to as such delays could mean slowing down government revenue inflow.
He also pledged to set up a trade dispute resolution seat that will operate every day including weekends in ensuring that the Command is made a true front liner in global best practices in terms of customs operation for other customs formations to emulate.
He added that Apapa Command under his leadership won’t be complacent and will be open to continuous engagement with everyone.
He also.promisrd to.operate an open door policy ‘My doors are open for advice on how best to achieve our mandate because we are all here to add value and do better,” Olomu said.