In the annals of Nigeria Customs Service, some leadership transitions feel routine—yet others stand out as turning points that promise continuity, renewal, and fresh ambition. The change of guard at Apapa Command on Monday was of the latter kind. As Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba assumed duty as the new Area Controller, succeeding Assistant Comptroller-General Babatunde Olomu, it was more than a ceremonial handover.
It was the passing of a torch lit by record-breaking achievements and handed to a man determined to keep the flame burning even brighter.
Apapa is no ordinary command. It is the flagship of Nigeria’s Customs operations, the nerve centre where the nation’s economic heartbeat is often measured in daily revenue tallies and trade facilitation milestones. Comptroller Oshoba, stepping into this giant’s shoes, did not arrive with lofty promises but with a philosophy as simple as it is profound: Look, Listen, and Learn.
For him, leadership is not about dictating from above but about connecting—understanding the heartbeat of Apapa, engaging officers and stakeholders, and building on the foundation of collaboration.
What makes his arrival even more reassuring is the wealth of experience he brings to the table. Before this posting, Comptroller Oshoba was the immediate past Comptroller of Customs in charge of the Customs Intelligence Unit—an elite role that sharpened his expertise in surveillance, intelligence gathering, and enforcement.
In other words, Apapa is receiving not just a new boss but a seasoned officer who understands the delicate balance between facilitation and enforcement, compliance, and trade growth.
His words at the handover carried the weight of sincerity: “As a person, I live with a desire to improve on any environment I find myself, and my work period here will not be an exception.” This is not just rhetoric; it is the testimony of a man who sees service as both duty and opportunity.
Comptroller Oshoba, as expected by all, pledged transparency, integrity, and innovation as his compass, promising to lead not merely as a boss but as a partner in the shared mission of making Apapa stronger, faster, and more efficient.
It is impossible to welcome Oshoba without acknowledging the towering legacy of his predecessor, ACG Olomu. Under Olomu’s stewardship, Apapa rewrote history books: N2.3 trillion in revenue in 2024; N1.834 trillion already recorded in 2025, representing over 60 percent of the year’s ambitious N3 trillion target; multiple daily records including N18.9 billion in a single day.
Enforcement was equally robust, with 75 seizures of contraband goods that could have endangered lives and sabotaged the economy. These were not numbers floating in the abstract—they were achievements rooted in discipline, vision, and a team culture that believed excellence was non-negotiable.
Comptroller Oshoba, far from being intimidated, has chosen to treat this record as a springboard rather than a shadow. He has vowed to sustain and surpass them, embracing the digital revolution already underway in Customs.
From the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System to the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, Time Release Study (TRS), and Advanced Ruling (AR), Oshoba has aligned himself with the CGC’s blueprint of modernisation and global competitiveness. Hi recognition of technology is not a slogan but a lifeblood of reform to give lives to traders, agents, and the business community at large.
Equally striking was his tone of inclusiveness. “Your ideas, your passion, and your expertise are the foundation on which my service here shall be built,” he told officers and stakeholders. In an era when leadership is often mistaken for aloofness, Oshoba’s humility and willingness to listen mark him as a different kind of Comptroller.
He understands that no one succeeds alone and that in a command as complex as Apapa, collective wisdom is as important as individual brilliance.
The stakeholders present at the ceremony—voices as diverse as Dr. Boniface Aniebonam of NAGAFF, Ademola Mumuney of ANLCA, and Hakeem Olanrewaju of the Customs Consultative Council—saw in Oshoba a leader worth rallying behind.
Their pledges of support were not mere courtesies; they reflected a consensus that continuity and stability are best secured when leadership is both capable and approachable.
For me, watching this transition unfold, I see in Comptroller Oshoba not just a successor but a standard-bearer of Customs excellence. He inherits a command rich in achievements, but he also carries the responsibility of writing the next chapter—one that will demand not only maintaining momentum but also breaking new frontiers.
His philosophy of Look, Listen, and Learn gives me confidence that he will not merely follow a trail but carve new paths for Apapa and the Service at large.
Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba steps into history with clarity of purpose, humility of approach, and determination of spirit. Apapa, under his watch, has every reason to expect not just sustained success but new heights of performance.
And, as I reflect on his promise and posture, one phrase keeps echoing in my mind: the journey continues, but the destination remains greatness.
This article was written by Muhammad Bashir, a public commentator and analyst with a keen interest in public administration, democracy, governance, and institutional development. He can be reached via email at macbashir89@gmail.com for comments, feedback, or further discussion.
