Apapa, Lagos State, Nigeria – E be like say Nigeria Customs Service dey serious about their anti-smuggling game, as dem don seize 27 containers of wahala goods between January and June 2025. Dis matter no be play, as dem also seal three bonded terminals wey carry plenty contraband.
During one half-year press briefing wey take place on Thursday, Babatunde Olomu, wey be the Customs Area Controller for the Apapa Area Command, show us wetin don happen. E talk say dem dey prosecute one of the terminals wey dem seal. The remaining two terminals still dey under investigation (abi na gisting wey dey go on?).
Make we break am down. Dem don catch nine containers wey carry unregistered pharmaceuticals, used clothing, expired margarine, codeine syrup, wild animal skins, and even stolen vehicles. Chai! Wetin dem still dey find for inside these containers?
Olomu still talk say, “Other seizures include 10 more containers of unregistered pharmaceuticals, two containers of codeine syrup, another two containers of stolen motors, and four containers of second-hand clothes, make dem no forget sabi contrabands wey dey worth N9.2 billion.” Abeg, who dey manage all these heavy loads?
Omo, dis na serious matter because Olomu talk say dem dey try protect Nigerians from bad food and drugs, stop illicit trade, and make sure our local industries no suffer. Omo, we dey sabi this one! Dem even catch container wey carry imported matches without the right End User Certificate (choi, wetin dem dey smoke?).
“All consignments wey pass through Apapa Port go through sharp screening, dey scan am and dey check physically if dem need to. We dey serious about protecting our nation from harmful imports and illegal trade,” Na wetin Olomu talk. E fit be say dem don soup na local industries, but wetin go happen to the ‘foreign importers’?
Olomu still shoot some words about wildlife, as in say dem go no longer allow bad boys wey dey import wild animal parts to violate international laws make e no go spoil our name. Nigeria no go hear word! On top revenue collection, dis command don gather N1.37 trillion from January to June, which na 35 percent increase from last year wey dem collect N1.02 trillion. Na serious business be this as dem don gather extra N354 billion in just six months, wahala!
Olomu dey also talk with Nigerian Railway Corporation and other stakeholders on how to make am easy to move goods from Apapa Port to different states by rail. E no go bad if transport system don balance well like that. Na just good news we dey hear today!
