By Ifeoma Ikem
Controller Oluwadare Oshoba assumed the role of Commander, Area Controller of Apapa Command, succeeding Controller Babatunde Olomu who was promoted to Assistant Comptroller of Customs.
During the handover ceremony, Controller Oshoba stated, ” I am deeply humbled and sense a strong duty to stand before you today to assume leadership as the Customs Area Controller of Nigeria’s premier port and the heartbeat of Nigeria’s maritime trade.
Oshoba characterized his predecessor’s tenure as nothing short of historic, stating that under his leadership, the Apapa Command became a benchmark for excellence in revenue generation, enforcement, and trade facilitation.
The new Apapa boss values the inputs of officers and stakeholders, acknowledging that your ideas, enthusiasm and your expertise will serve as the foundation for my tenure. He also expressed his dedication to fostering an inclusive environment where all voices are heard and appreciated, with his leadership structure around the three key pillars.
Improving revenue excellence – We will build on the foundation laid by my predecessor to ensure consistent growth in collections through transparency, accountability, a collective approach and efficiency.
Deepening enforcement and security – Intelligence will remain at the heart of our operations. We will close gaps, detect concealments, and intercept prohibited goods before they harm our economy and people.
Enhancing stakeholder relations – The port community is our partner in progress. We will continue to strengthen trust with importers, exporters, clearing agents, shipping companies, and sister agencies, knowing that trade facilitation and compliance are two sides of the same coin.
Controller Oshoba requested for a few demands, I expect cooperation from every individuals, including officers and stakeholders who cannot be here in person because of work-related , sparial, and, the time constraints.
The new Apapa Command boss urged officers of the command to renew their dedication and shared vision for excellence, he therefore solicited for maximum support from every one.
The Service is currently at a crucial phase in its ICT and modernization drive, marking a very significant turning point in its drive to evolve.
The world is changing rapidly, and with change comes opportunities. Together, we will build on the gains of our indigenous platform (B’Odogwu) and cause our workplace to evolve into an ecosystem of rapid innovation and excellence, requesting for continued support to push the Unified Customs Management System to greater heights, he added.
The Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), Time Release Study (TRS), Advanced Ruling (AR) and other trade facilitation programmes, which put NCS ahead of its peers’ Customs administration in Africa, will be the cornerstone of my leadership approach.
As Nigeria has produced the Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, we are a country of interest in the global Customs community, so let us portray a leading example by upholding the principles of compliance and ensuring unwavering adherence to all legal frameworks governing import, export and excise operations.
‘I believe in the power of collaboration, no one succeeds alone, and I am here to work alongside you, not just as a leader, but as a partner in our shared mission, We will face challenges, but we will tackle them together, with resilience and determination. We will also celebrate our successes together, because every milestone we achieve will be a testament to our collective hard work and commitment.
The recently promoted Apapa boss charged everyone to consolidate on the gains, embrace innovation as we collectively write the next chapter of legacy for Apapa Command and the Nigeria Customs Service at large.
Comptroller Oshoba extend his profound gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the Management of the Nigeria Customs Service for entrusting him with the new strategic responsibility, he pledged his utmost commitment to justify the confidence reposed in me.
The outgoing, Controller of Apapa Command, Dr Babatunde Olomu, reflected on his tenure as a beautiful moment.He praised officers, sister agencies, and stakeholders for their cooperation, which, he said, was instrumental to the command’s great achievements .
He notes that the service period was designed to bring challenges and offers solutions to improve Nigeria, and expressed his gratitude for his new rank as Assistant Comptroller of Customs (ACC) as he transitioned to his new position.
Dr Olomu assumed duty on 6 May 2024.
