‎
‎
‎
‎
‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎The Murtala Mohammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Wednesday, said that in eleven months, the Command has already achieved 100.1%, surpassing her annual revenue target for 2025. Customs Area Controller, Comptroller M.T. Awe disclosed this in Ikeja, Lagos, while highlighting the Command’s activities as well as  accomplishments in its core responsibilities of revenue generation, trade facilitation and suppression of smuggling as the year ends.
‎
‎Between January and November 2025, the  Command generated a total of N179, 910,  971.00 from customs duties and related charges.
‎

The seized contrabands on display.

‎” The revenue generated shows a significant improvement over N164, 819,  895, 457:00 that was generated in the corresponding period in 2024. This reflects an outstanding 9.16% increase, amounting to N15, 91, 75, 645: 81 kobo growth.”
‎
‎”The Command’s exceptional performance within this period,” the CAC  explained, “is attributed to the dedication of our personnel, strong collaboration with partner agencies, and continuous engagement with stakeholders.”
‎
‎”This impressive performance reflects our unwavering commitment to efficiency, transparency and accountability. Our success is driven by enhanced trader compliance, timely monitoring of import transactions, swift detection of irregularities, and deliberate actions taken to eliminate all revenue leakages.”

‎He extended his heartfelt appreciation to all compliant traders and clearing agents for being  cooperative and dedicated.

‎
‎On anti-smuggling operations, during this period, the Command successfully intercepted and seized the following prohibited items:3pkgs of Colorado CAT Leaf4pkgs of Nigeria Immigration Service uniform materials, 1pkg Two-way Radio Walkie Talkie and 1pkg of TIPPMANN Semi-Automatic 50/68 Calibre Magfed Paintball marker gun. Others were 75pkgs of Pangolin Scales , 1pkg of Elephant Tusk, 2pkgs of Canadian Cannabis Sativa, 6pkgs of 225mg Tramadol Hydrochloride and 17pkgs of unregistered 300mg Pregabalin tablets Others were 5pkgs of unregistered 2mg Sardulud and 50mg Norflex tablets, 6pkgs of 225mg Tramadol Hydrochloride and 523pcs of signed Deutsch Bank and AIB Bank Cheques. The total Duty Paid Value of these seizures is N7, 201, 895, 232:00.
‎
‎The Command was able to achieve this feat through robust intelligence gathering, strengthened surveillance efforts as well as effective collaboration with relevant partners.
‎”The Command remains firmly committed to its zero-tolerance stance on smuggling and will continue to enforce all applicable trade laws with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism”.
‎
‎Comptroller Awe espoused the virtues of strong stakeholder relationships and its role in the Command’s achievements.
‎
‎”Throughout the period under review, we sustained an open communication and mutual cooperation with all stakeholders and sister agencies. These engagements enabled us to resolve challenges amicably, harmonize procedures, and deepen institutional trust.Together, we created a more conducive environment for legitimate trade while maintaining strict and consistent enforcement against all forms of violations.”
‎
‎He expressed profound gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and the entire management team for their visionary leadership and unwavering support.
‎
‎”Their guidance has been instrumental to every accomplishment we have recorded. I equally extend my heartfelt appreciation to the officers and men of the Command. Your dedication, resilience and professionalism have been the backbone of our success”.
‎He urged them the personnel to continue upholding the Service’ core values of integrity, discipline, and excellence in service delivery.
‎
‎”To our stakeholders, I remain deeply grateful for your patience, understanding and cooperation. You have been true partners in progress, and your contributions have strengthened our collective efforts”.
‎
‎Murtala Muhammed Area Command, he emphasized, remains firmly committed to improving revenue generation, intensifying the fight against smuggling and deepening stakeholder collaboration.
‎

‎
‎
‎
‎
‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎Nigeria’s pioneer maritime reporters body, the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), Thursday, set aside the Godfrey Bivbere-led Executive, replacing it with a 3-man Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the body in the interim.
‎
‎The Caretaker Committee unanimously put in place is part of a major reorganization to reposition MARAN to enable her meet her cardinal  aspirations .
‎
‎Led by Mr Tunde Ayodele as Chairman,  Mr John Obot and Mrs Ruth Sunday Umunna now serve as Secretary and Treasurer respectively.
‎
‎Unveiling the new dispensation in a release, MARAN wishes all stakeholders, particularly in the maritime sector,  ministries, government departments and agencies to, henceforth, direct and channel all dealings with the new leadership.
‎
‎”The Association wishes to state categorically that the action is for the good of the Association, the industry and the nation in general and should therefore not be misconstrued.”
‎
‎”We wish to use this medium to invite our highly esteemed stakeholders to our Association’s forthcoming launch of the book, “50 Drivers of the Nigerian Marine and Blue Economy”, coming up on the 4th of December, at Providence Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.”
‎
‎”The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, MARAN, is a foremost body of highly cerebral, credible, erudite and professional Journalists, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. It has been covering the activities of the maritime industry for nearly four decades.”
‎
‎”The Association had made its indelible mark in the maritime sector through unbiased, insightful, and impactful reportage of the sector over the years.
‎It is the first and the longest Maritime Association in the Industry and has evolved with more than forty members from the Prints, Electronic and Online platforms.”
‎
‎
‎

‎
‎
‎
‎
‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
‎
‎
‎
‎In continuation of the campaign against illegal trafficking of wild life and endangered animal species, the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted a consignment of endangered wildlife species, including one lion cub and two patas monkeys. This followed a stop-and-search operation along the Badagry–Seme Expressway.
‎
‎ A statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman says the interception occurred at about 2:19 a.m. on Sunday, November 16, 2025, when operatives stopped a blue Mazda vehicle with registration number MUS 743 HA at Gbaji.
‎
‎Upon inspection, officers discovered the animals whose cross-border transportation  was a clear violation of national and international wildlife protection laws.
‎
‎Two suspects — Mathew Kofi, a Beninoise national and Nasiru Usman Gwandu, a Nigerian — claimed ownership of the animals and admitted to purchasing them in Kano with the intention of conveying them to Benin Republic.
‎
‎The Command immediately confiscated the animals in line with Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
‎
‎The suspects were detained for further investigation to determine their level of involvement in wildlife trafficking.

‎
‎Formally handing over the lion cub and monkeys to  the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative for  proper handling, the Customs Area Controller , Comptroller Wale Adenuga, represented by Deputy Comptroller A.Y.Mohammed, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to enforcing wildlife protection laws, environmental conservation and border security.
‎
‎“We will continue to work with relevant agencies to ensure that the illegal trade in endangered species is decisively curtailed,” he stated.
‎
‎He said the interception underscores Nigeria Customs’ growing role in combating wildlife trafficking and protecting biodiversity, while reinforcing the country’s compliance with international conservation standards.
‎