Muritala Mohammed Airport Command Achieves A Record High N23b In One Month, Sets Operational Standards in Cargo Handling
Muritala Mohammed Airport Command Achieves A Record High N23b In One Month, Sets Operational Standards in Cargo Handling
By Jerry Aguigbo
The Murtala Muhammed Customs Area Command has collected over N23B billion in its revenue drive for the federal government in January 2026 alone. The astronautical rise saw its monthly revenue surge from 16,673,433,040.00 in January, 2025 to 23,410,408,103.20 in January, 2026.
Comptroller Gabriel A. Otunla, the MMAC Area Controller has stated that this was a result of deliberate and sustained efforts to suppress anti – trade practices, especially concealment by some unscrupulous Agents who try to browbeat Customs operatives from collecting government revenue. He reiterated the Command’s resolve to keep the business ethics of ensuring that Port Operators and Clearing Agents pay stipulated duties for goods before they can be completely cleared from the ports.
Comptroller Otunla who made this statement in interaction with members of the Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN) during a courtesy visit said
that every item which comes into the country through freight has its own record in the form of an Airway bill. He explained that every item, no matter how small is given a separate airway bill, not collectively as most agents tend to present during inspection by bunching 4 or 5 items together with one Airway bill.
Otunla reiterated that every item coming into the country is captured in the database of the Nigeria Customs and
those who have circumvented this rule by not paying for all their items are held accountable even when the concealed items are eventually taken out of the customs warehouse, the system still shows that they were not properly cleared. To right this wrong, Customs will go after the licenced terminal Operators to get the agents to pay for the cargoes.
The Comptroller who had worked under different Customs Area Controllers in MMAC as a young officer before he was moved to Ogun1 and Ogun 2 Commands, attributed his achievements so far to his experience in the terrain and the support and contribution of dedicated officers working with him .
Recounting his experience at the border , especially the Ogun1 Customs Area command Idiroko, where he spent barely seven months . Comptroller Otunla
recalled that though it was mostly relatively peaceful, the Command had spectacular seizures with no loss of lives on both sides of the divide, thanks to effective intelligence in the line of duty and collaboration with sister government Agencies.
Controller Otunla advised the trading public to see the Nigerian Customs as friends and facilitators and not as enemies.
He advised that members of the public make proper enquiry before buying any product,. According to him,
there should be thorough findings about the item on sale to be sure that it was properly cleared from the ports, to avoid being stopped on the road by Customs officers only to be told that your car or other items were not properly cleared.
The CAC reiterated that the Nigeria Customs Service remains a trade-facilitating agency, stressing that honest traders and compliant agents would always receive the Service’s support.
“We are trade facilitators, but only when the trade is genuine. We advise the trading public to ask questions, seek clarification and verify before importing. Customs is always available to guide,” he said.
Otunla assured stakeholders that the Command would continue to engage agents, terminal operators and other partners to ensure seamless operations while safeguarding government revenue.
About Post Author
