By seaflyponews 
Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu Visits Apapa Customs, Seeks Continued Partnership for Enhanced Maritime Operations
By Babatunde Aremu
The Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard Limited, ASNDL, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu, on Thursday, 8 May 2025, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), seeking continued partnership for enhanced maritime operations on Riverine area.
While receiving the Rear Admiral and his entourage, Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, warmly welcomed the delegation, acknowledging the Naval dockyard’s critical role in Port Corridor security and patrol boats maintenance.
He emphasised on sustaining an open door policy as enjoyed by other Stakeholders in the industry and leveraging on existing cooperation between the two Agencies to enhance Riverine operations.
The Area Controller further highlighted the Command’s impressive performances in revenue generation, anti-smuggling and trade facilitation.
Comptroller Olomu noted that the Command generated over N2.3 trillion from the N6 trillion revenue figure recorded by the Service in 2024, a testament to its efficiency and effectiveness in facilitating trade while ensuring compliance with customs regulations, and is willing to deliver more in 2025.
In his words, “The Command successfully generated N2.3 trillion in 2024, and as at Wednesday 7 May 2025, we have raised about nine hundred and Seventy Seven Billion. We are targeting one trillion naira by Monday 12 May 2025”.
Earlier, the Admiral, who appreciated the warmth reception offered by the Area Controller, underscored the significance of the relationship between the Naval Dockyard and Apapa Port Command.
He cited the dockyard’s critical role in maintaining and sustaining Nigeria’s shipping fleet, which relies heavily on efficient customs procedures to facilitate imports and exports.
While fielding questions from journalists, the Rear Admiral Shehu expressed his desire to strengthen the existing collaborative partnership, offering the dockyard’s services in vessel maintenance and engineering to support Customs operations.
He also highlighted the dockyard’s contributions to the Nigerian blue economy, particularly in maintaining the shipping fleet and providing services to the merchant fleet.
Comptroller Olomu, in response, acknowledged the critical role of the Nigerian Navy in border security, emphasizing their importance in safeguarding the country’s maritime interests.
Rear Admiral IE shehu, who assumed office On Friday, 21 March 25 as the 27th ASNDL, was accompanied by the General Manager Production – Cdr AO Obisesan; GM Special Project, Capt. MT Abdullahi; Capt. D Teniola, Lt. DE Okpong, Lt. JR Atim Ebion; SLT S Imba, among others.
The visit highlights the importance of inter-agency collaboration in driving economic growth and national security.
By working together, the Naval Dockyard and Apapa Port Command can create a more efficient and secure trade environment, ultimately contributing to Nigeria’s economic development.