Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Customs Area Controller of Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, has secured the support of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu. This endorsement was a key outcome of Olomu’s recent visit to the Oba’s palace, aimed at fostering stronger community relations and enhancing compliance with government fiscal policies.
During the courtesy visit, Olomu highlighted the critical role that traditional institutions play in promoting fiscal compliance and conveyed greetings from the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR.
He underscored the importance of Lagos and Apapa port to Nigeria’s economy, noting that the Apapa area command is expected to generate N2.3 trillion out of the total N5.1 trillion target for the Nigerian Customs Service in the fiscal year 2024.
“We are here to seek your royal blessings and to solicit your support in ensuring that your subjects and stakeholders comply fully with government fiscal policies,” Olomu stated.
He emphasized the necessity of collaboration with traditional institutions to achieve the projected revenue and implement government policies successfully.
In response, Oba Akiolu expressed satisfaction with the Customs Service’s efforts and called for stringent measures to combat the smuggling of prohibited and adulterated drugs, which he described as a significant threat to public health and safety.
“Smuggling of drugs, adulterated or substandard, poses a great threat to our nation. The havoc it wreaks on our people is immense.
“We must continue to educate and appeal to our citizens to understand the dangers of these illicit activities. The Nigerian Customs Service, under your leadership, plays a pivotal role in this fight,” Oba Akiolu stated.
The monarch praised the collaboration between the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), highlighting their excellent performance in combating drug smuggling. He assured Olomu of his unwavering support, adding,
“I assure you of my support any time, any day. May God Almighty take care of the officers under your command and prepare you adequately for your future endeavors,” he said.
Oba Akiolu also advised customs officers to prioritize their health and the education of their children, sharing his own experience of longevity attributed to God’s grace.
“Educate your children and look after your health. I am 81 years old now, and it is by God’s grace. God will also do it for you,” he remarked.
The visit concluded with mutual assurances of cooperation and commitment to combating drug smuggling, ensuring the safety and well-being of the Nigerian populace.
Olomu’s visit to the Oba of Lagos follows his recent visit to the Oba of Ijora, Oba Fatai Aromire, as part of efforts to strengthen customs community relations—a visit noted to be the first of its kind in thirty years.