DR. AZEEZ MUSTAPHA APPLAUDS COMPT. OLOMU OVER MASSIVE SEIZURE OF UNWHOLESOME IMPORTS
BY Mcanthony Onuoha
The Managing Principal of AZ De World Cargo Logistics Limited , Dr. Azeez Abayomi Mustapha Rff, FITMT, has applauded the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Babatunde Olomu (PhD) , over his continued efforts to drastically reduce the influx of unwholesome imports into the Nigerian markets through Apapa Port.
In a statement he personally signed and made available to The Prestige Magazine Online, the Logistics Expert and seasoned freight forwarder commended Compt. Olomu and his team for their vigilance , professionalism and commitment to service of fatherland and mental well-being of the Nigerian youth.
Dr. Mustapha opined that if the massive haul of unwholesome imports , especially, controlled drugs that are stopped by the Customs almost on daily basis are allowed to find there ways into the Nigerian markets, the country would not be able to handle the end results, saying that the consequences would be grave.
Dr. Mustapha also applauded the Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) of Customs, Zone A, Charles Orbih, for dutifully and diligently coordinating the Commands and Units under his purview for unprecedented records, especially, in the areas of anti- smuggling activities and revenue generation.
He also commended the Customs Area Controller of Tincan Command, Compt. Frank Onyeka for his achievements at the Command in less than six months he assumed office as Controller.
Between January and April, 2025, the Apapa Customs said it intercepted seven containers laden with Sex enhancement drugs, expired food items, different brands of unregistered pharmaceutical products and 113 units of high tech drones and other restricted imports valued at N912 million between January and April, 2025.
(The CG displaying some of the seized items)
While displaying the seized items before newsmen at Apapa port, Comptroller General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR expressed concern over the influx of unregistered pharmaceutical products into the country, saying that some of the intercepted drugs lacked requisite regulatory approvals and quality assurance certifications, thereby, posing public health risk to Nigerians if allowed to go into the open market.
In his words, “of particular concern is the alarming prevalence of unregistered pharmaceutical products entering our supply chain without requisite regulatory approvals and quality assurance certifications. These items constitute a clear and present danger to public health, with potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality if permitted to infiltrate our domestic markets”.
“The Apapa Port Command has, between January and April 2025, executed a series of targeted interdictions resulting in the seizure of prohibited and restricted imports”.
The seizure operations at the Apapa Command which is headed by Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, according to the CGC, yielded a total of 11 seizures which comprised of five units of 40-foot containers, two units of 20-foot containers, four additional seizures of loosely concealed contraband items. The aforementioned seizures have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N921,021,213.00 million.
Giving further details of the seizures Adeniyi said, “the contraband items fall into three principal categories. The first category is unregistered pharmaceutical products lacking mandatory NAFDAC registration numbers and certification, a direct contravention of Section 28 of the NAFDAC Act Cap N1 LFN 2004 (as amended). These constitute 63.7% of the total seizure value.”
“The second category are expired food items with compromised safety profiles that pose imminent danger to public health if introduced into the consumer market, in violation of the Food Products (Registration) Regulations and the Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports Act.”
“The third category are controlled equipment including drone technology and telecommunication devices imported without requisite End-User Certificates from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as mandated by the National Security Agencies Act”.
Further breakdown of the seizures includes, five 40 foot containers of sex enhancement drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products including 891 cartons of Redsun Silddnafil citrate oral jelly, Dr. ICO Cypropheptadine with multivamin tablet, Samson oil, Rocket Sildenafil citrate tablet, Dr. Ico herbal inhaler, Dr. Ico pain relief and Col caps.
Others are Chloropheniramine- Maleate capsules, Hyegra Sildenafil citrate tablets, original chest and lungs, Vita plus ( big booty tablets, Cyprohiptadin with B- complex tablets, Gbogbonise skin cream, skin chemist cream, among others.
The expired food items according to the CGC were made up of two 20-foot containers found to contain expired margarine products which poses a significant threat to public health of the citizenry.
On the controlled equipment, the CGC said , ” we have (60 units of WARRIOR drones and 53 units of different helicopter drones) and 10 units of professional FM transceiver walkie-talkies were intercepted due to the lack of requisite End-User Certificates from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA)”.
All the seizures, according to the CGC, were in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Service’s mandate on public accountability and stakeholder engagement,
In the press release, Dr. Azeez Mustapha commended Compt.Olomu and his team for their vigilance, professionalism and patriotism, which led to the discovery and subsequent interceptions. He advised importers of unwholesome products to have a rethink, saying that after accumulation of all the wealth , there would surely be an appointed day for every mortal to give account of his/ her activities while on earth.
