Maritime and commerce stakeholders have recommended the elevation of Muhammad Babandede to the rank of Assistant Comptroller Common (ACG) of Customs by the Comptroller Common of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
Stakeholders described Babandede as a reform-driven officer who has persistently demonstrated excellence in income technology, commerce facilitation and anti-smuggling operations throughout instructions he has headed.
A senior agent, Ikechukwu Onyema, mentioned Babandede’s promotion was effectively deserved, noting that his profession trajectory displays consistency in reforms and improvements. “As pioneer Customs Space Controller (CAC) of the Lilypond Export Command, he remodeled the unit right into a vibrant hub for non-oil exports, considerably boosting the federal authorities’s diversification agenda,” the skilled acknowledged.
One other business participant, Chukwu Onyeachi, recalled that on the Lekki Deep Seaport Command, Babandede launched measures that streamlined operations, diminished bottlenecks and boosted income. “These reforms strengthened investor confidence within the port and positioned it as a aggressive gateway for commerce,” he mentioned.
Babandede mixed strict enforcement with commerce facilitation on the Onne Command to realize record-breaking income collections and anti-smuggling successes.
Official statistics confirmed that below his management, the command generated N859.9 billion between Might 2024 and July 2025.
Past income technology, Babandede was recommended for his management in intercepting illicit cargoes. The Comptroller Common of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, praised him and his group for professionalism and diligence, describing the seizures as nationwide safety.
“I wish to categorical my deep appreciation to the officers of the Port Harcourt Space II Command for his or her relentless efforts in safeguarding our nation,” Adeniyi mentioned. “Your dedication to obligation and your dedication to the struggle towards smuggling are commendable. These seizures had been made in strict compliance with customs legal guidelines regarding concealment, false declaration and the importation of prohibited objects.”
Adeniyi emphasised that Babandede’s efforts in intercepting contraband price about N200 billion weren’t solely a Customs success but additionally a safeguard for the nation’s safety and economic system. He referred to as on Nigerians to help the Customs Service with intelligence, stressing that nationwide safety was a shared duty.
“This isn’t only a Customs concern – it’s a nationwide safety concern that impacts each Nigerian. We’re subsequently calling on all patriotic residents to help us on this essential endeavour. Your info, irrespective of how small, might be the important thing to stopping a possible disaster,” Adeniyi acknowledged.
The Customs CGC reiterated his dedication to strengthening intelligence networks, enhancing inter-agency collaboration and guaranteeing that smugglers face the total weight of the regulation. “I wish to guarantee all Nigerians that the Nigeria Customs Service will proceed to be a formidable drive within the struggle towards smuggling and the unlawful importation of dangerous items. We’ll stay steadfast in our duties to make sure that our nation stays a secure place for all to thrive,” Adeniyi mentioned.
LEADERSHIP studies that ACG Babandede recorded a complete of N859bn as income and intercepted completely different contraband price N200bn between Might 2024 and July 2025.
The command’s public relations officer, Theophilus Duniya, disclosed this in a doc on Thursday analysing the tenure of Muhammad Babandede because the Customs Space Controller of the command.
In keeping with the doc, the command within the final 15 months below the management of Babandede intercepted numerous contraband, together with assorted rifles, ammunition, expired prescription drugs, pretend medicine and even banned substances reminiscent of codeine, tramadol and others.
“Since he took over in Might 2024, the command generated over N860 billion from import and intercepted contraband price over N200 billion.
“The command in Might 2024 generated N47.421bn, N62.342bn in June, N62.847bn in July, N47.725bn in August, N49.502bn in September, N64.683bn in October, N51.795bn in November and N50.820bn in December 2024.
“In 2025, the command generated N61.489bn in January, N62.371bn in February, N66.709bn in March, N54.312 billion in April, N64.034 billion in Might, N56.349bn in June and N57.518 billion in July, making a whopping N859bn in 15 months as CAC of the command,” Duniya mentioned.
Giving particulars of the interceptions recorded inside the interval below evaluate, Duniya talked about that the seizures included 544 assorted rifles, 112,500 rounds of ammunition, over 75 million tablets of tramadol, over 14 million bottles of cough syrup with codeine and over 50 million tablets of different harmful expired medicines, all with an obligation paid worth of over N200 billion.
