The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) engaged members of the House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations in an interactive session at the Apapa Area Command, Lagos, to clarify its role in national safety, border control, and enforcement of import standards.
Led by its Chairman, Hon. David Idris Zacharias, the committee visited the Command as part of its ongoing nationwide oversight exercise to assess safety compliance across key government agencies. The lawmakers had earlier visited the Customs headquarters in Abuja before continuing their inspections in Lagos.
Hon. Zacharias said the visit was not aimed at fault-finding but at strengthening collaboration between the legislature and the Service toward ensuring the protection of lives and property through effective standards enforcement.
“We have a mandate to carry out this exercise, beginning from the head office of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja. We are here to see things for ourselves and verify allegations about safety lapses while appreciating the efforts of Customs in safeguarding Nigerians from substandard goods,” he said.
He disclosed that the committee had received petitions alleging lapses in safety enforcement among several agencies, including Customs, noting that the oversight visit was meant to verify such claims and promote cooperation.
“The safety of Nigerians is our collective responsibility. We have seen that the Nigeria Customs Service also has a mandate tied to safety, which means we must work together as a team,” he added.
Lawmakers also raised concerns about the influx of substandard products, including fake cables and electrical materials linked to fire incidents and building collapses.
Responding, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, who received the delegation on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, assured the lawmakers of the Service’s unwavering commitment to national safety.
“We are fully prepared for your visit and ready to show you our facilities. Within Apapa Command, no consignment that poses a threat to public safety or national security is allowed to enter the market. We have made several seizures of such items,” Oshoba said.
He acknowledged, however, that Nigeria’s extensive and porous borders remain a major national security challenge but maintained that Customs continues to enforce compliance rigorously within its operational areas.
“We work closely with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and other relevant agencies to strengthen monitoring mechanisms against substandard imports,” he added.
The visit featured facility inspections and document reviews and formed part of the committee’s broader national oversight tour to evaluate safety policies and inter-agency coordination.
Hon. Zacharias commended the Customs management for its transparency and professionalism, expressing confidence that the committee’s findings would help the National Assembly make informed decisions to enhance national safety standards.
