Index to Nigerian Newspapers

During a half-year press briefing, Babatunde Olomu, the Customs Area Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service Apapa Area Command, announced major enforcement successes between January and June 2025. The command seized 27 containers of prohibited and illegally imported goods with a total duty paid value of 9.2 billion Naira. These confiscated items included unregistered pharmaceuticals, codeine syrup, expired margarine, second-hand clothing, stolen vehicles, matches without an End User Certificate, and wild animal skins. Babatunde Olomu strongly condemned the smuggling of wild animal parts, noting that it violates the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Additionally, the command sealed three bonded terminals due to various infractions, leading to one active court prosecution and two ongoing investigations. Beyond anti-smuggling operations aimed at protecting local industries and public health through strict scanning and physical examinations, the command generated 1.37 trillion Naira in revenue, marking a 35 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. To further improve trade efficiency, the command has also initiated discussions with the Nigerian Railway Corporation and other stakeholder associations to establish a standard operating procedure for transporting goods by rail from the Apapa Port to other states across Nigeria.