Nigeria’s foremost seaports, Apapa and Tin-Can Island, over N1 trillion in revenue in the first quarter of 2025, underscoring the ports’ crucial role in federal earnings even as operational setbacks continue to stifle trade efficiency.

Data released by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) showed that the Apapa Command alone accounted for N753.8 billion, a 54 percent surge from the N489 billion recorded during the same period in 2024.

Its counterpart at Tin-Can Island reported N347.9 billion in revenue, representing a 12.6 percent increase from N304 billion collected in the first quarter of 2024.

Together, both ports contributed approximately N1.1 trillion to federal coffers between January and March 2025.

Babatunde Olomu, Apapa’s customs area controller, told members of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise during an oversight visit that the impressive revenue haul stemmed from improved compliance and intelligence-led enforcement, bolstered by the command’s alignment with the NCS modernisation agenda.

Olomu revealed that the command hit a major milestone on March 14 with a single-day revenue collection of N18.9 billion, the highest in the 135-year history of the Customs Service, surpassing the previous record of N18.2 billion achieved in October 2024.

At Tin-Can Island, Frank Onyeka, the area controller, gave a monthly breakdown of Q1 revenue figures, noting that January’s N116.4 billion take was 24 percent higher than the same month last year.

February saw a modest 2.9 percent increase, while March posted a 10.3 percent year-on-year rise.

Despite these gains, both commands say that systemic inefficiencies continue to hamper smoother operations.

At Apapa Port, Olomu noted a critical shortage of scanning machines and outdated technological equipment, which slow down cargo clearance and frustrate trade facilitation efforts.

He called for legislation to support the procurement of more scanners and surveillance technologies, including drones and cargo tracking devices, to curb smuggling and boost efficiency.

He also pointed to the poor management of the electronic truck call-up system (ETO), which nearly triggered industrial action before the intervention of the comptroller general of customs.

Meetings with the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) helped stave off a port shutdown.

Beyond Customs’ direct control, Olomu urged lawmakers to engage terminal operators such as Eko Support, ENL, and APM Terminals on the need to upgrade their operational equipment in line with concession agreements signed with the Federal Government.

“Customs modernization cannot succeed in isolation. Other stakeholders must also move with the tide,” he said.

Meanwhile, Onyeka at Tin-Can Island encouraged importers and agents to embrace honest declarations, stressing that transparency would enhance efficiency and ensure a more conducive operational environment.

While revenue collection remains on the rise, stakeholders agree that matching infrastructure and technological capacity with Nigeria’s growing trade volume is essential for sustaining momentum and unlocking the ports’ full potential.