House Committee Commends Customs’ Safety Compliance During Oversight Visit to Apapa Command
Kathy Kyari
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening national safety and trade compliance as it hosted members of the House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations at the Apapa Area Command in Lagos on Tuesday.
The visit formed part of an ongoing legislative oversight mission to assess how government agencies enforce safety standards, monitor imports, and safeguard public welfare across Nigeria’s ports and borders.
Leading the delegation, Committee Chairman Hon. David Zacharias said the visit aligned with the committee’s constitutional mandate to “promote accountability, enhance regulatory efficiency, and safeguard national interests.”
He explained that the committee had received petitions alleging lapses in safety enforcement by some regulatory bodies, including Customs, prompting a nationwide verification tour of operational centres.
“The mission is not designed to indict any agency but to build collaborative mechanisms for strengthening safety enforcement across national entry points,” Zacharias stated. “Ensuring citizens’ safety requires partnership between lawmakers, regulatory agencies, and border security institutions, including the Nigeria Customs Service.”
Apapa Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, who received the delegation on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, welcomed the lawmakers and reiterated the Service’s dedication to transparency and public safety.
“Customs enforces strict trade standards to protect Nigerians and the economy,” Oshoba said. “We regularly seize substandard, counterfeit, and prohibited items, ensuring such goods do not reach consumers or contribute to public hazards.”
He added that the Service works closely with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), NAFDAC, and other security agencies to strengthen surveillance, improve inspection technology, and enhance trader compliance.
“Apapa Command does not clear consignments that threaten public safety, national security, or environmental standards,” he emphasized.
During the engagement, lawmakers raised concerns about fake electrical cables, substandard building materials, and expired goods that have caused accidents and building collapses. They also sought clarification on Customs’ coordination with SON, its digital scanning systems, and resource needs for improving cargo screening efficiency.
Zacharias commended the Customs Service for its transparency and proactive engagement, noting that “constructive oversight ultimately strengthens public institutions and safeguards citizens.”
He expressed optimism that the committee’s findings would inform legislative interventions, policy improvements, and budgetary provisions to enhance national safety systems.
Oshoba acknowledged challenges posed by Nigeria’s porous borders but called for “continued stakeholder support, investment in technology, and intelligence sharing to strengthen border control capacity nationwide.”
The lawmakers later toured port facilities, inspected screening operations, and reviewed enforcement documentation to assess the Service’s safety protocols and operational procedures.
The committee is expected to present its findings to the House of Representatives, recommending policy reforms to bolster regulatory efficiency and strengthen Nigeria’s safety framework.
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