NOTWITHSTANDING THE US-ISRAEL-IRAN WAR WHICH HAS DISRUPTED GLOBAL FLIGHT OPERATIONS; WE WILL HIT N300 BILLION MARK THIS YEAR—COMPT OTUNLA
By Timothy Paul Okorocha
Notwithstanding the disruption in flight operations occasioned by the United States-Israel-Iran war which is taking its toll on the global economy, the Murtala Muhammed Airport Command (MMAC) says it is not immuned to it, but has equally promised to scale up its yearly revenue target beyond the N288 billion mark.
The Customs Area Controller of the MMAC, Compt G. Otunla disclosed in a one-on-one chat with our Editor that the command is determined to generate at least N300 billion this year, a big leap from its 2026 target.
Saying his confidence is strengthened due to the unalloyed cooperation by all aviation stakeholders, he noted that they have been able to key into the vision of the Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, PhD, MFR, which has been anchored on genuine trade facilitation and the right declarations aimed at nipping fraudulent deals in the bud.
According to him, the monthly revenue of the command has continued in the upward swing, with the realization of N24,086,283,185.54 in January this year, as against N16,673,443,040.00 in the corresponding period of last year. Also, N17,086,700,370.74 was generated last month, up from N12,802, 621,115.00 in same period of last year.
The Command raked in N181,014,698,082.36 in 2024, while in 2025, it hit N207,580,076,897.94.
Compt Otunla insisted that the Command will strive to break even no matter the circumstances of the global flight disruption due to the Iran -Israel conflict.
The Command remains a shinning example in export business as the Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has streamlined its operations in this regard, churning out policies to discourage the unwholesome exports hitherto experienced.
Judging from where he was coming from as the immediate past Area Controller of the Ogun 1 command, he stated that as daunting as it was, ‘working at the MMAC is a way of embracing modern customs service’
Noting that , at the Idiroko, you are preoccupied and you bother yourself with wholesale anti-smuggling operations, but at the MMAC, Abuja is always on your neck in terms of adequate revenue generation’
Compt Otunla, a revenue/ anti-smuggling expert, has seen it all , having worked with several Assistant/Deputy Comptrollers General, as well as having served as Special Assistant to many Area Controllers.
He has garnered requisite knowledge which has taken him thus far. He remains one of the most humble Area Controllers of this season.