Nnadi Commends Recent Improvements in Lagos Ports, Seeks Sustainance To Fully Attain 24 Hourt Operation
Comptroller Dera Nnadi, the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command has lauded the growing inter agency synergy between Nigeria Customs Service and other critical government and private sector stakeholders that is resulting in improvement of port processes and procedures.
In a public statement issued in Lagos on Saturday, the Area Controller specifically commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi and the Managing Director of Nigeeian Ports Authority,Mohammed Bello-Koki for their change inducing efforts that is gravitating to the achievement of 24 hour port operation.
Customs Area Controller, Tin Can Island Port, Lagos
He listed the achievement of free flow of traffic in the Apapa Oshodi Expressway inward Tin can to Apapa that has been blocked for over 5 years as one of the laudable feats achieved by the synergy.
According to him, impactful reforms that encourages seamless cargo clearance at the port has been emplaced
Comptroller Nnadi, who is the Chairman of an implementation committee on Time Release Study, said the initiative has launced the entire Lagos ports into limelight for positive growth
While praising The optimisation process put in place,Nnadi said the synergy shared among various agencies of government has resulted in visible developments that include the desire to entrench the 24-hour cargo clearance, which commenced at Tincan Island port in real terms.
While noting that some persons may not be comfortable with the giant strides, Nnadi expressed optimism in the continuous success and sustainability of the gains so far recorded
He added in the statement that “Others include optimisation of the port infrastructure, including the ease of traffic along the port access road.
“The Tincan Port Command of Nigeria Customs Service wholly supports these moves aimed at launching the Tincan Port and indeed the entire lagos ports as a competitive hub in the subregion.
” It is for this reason that the Command has also introduced reforms in its business processes. These include the CGC approved WCO – Nigeria Time Release Study being co due yet in conjunction with the National Trade Facilitation Committee with sponsorship of our technical partners by His Royal Majesty Customs & Revenue Authority of UK. Others are the automation of the Command bond seat and the training of both officers and stakeholders alike.
One such training will commence on the 26 of March 2024 for releasing and examination officers. One highlight of the training is that we are inviting stakeholders from two major associations of frieght forwarders to be facilitators in the training programme. We are adopting a reversed approach of letting them tell us how to serve them best through the training by making them teach us.
“We are aware that there are few persons who are not comfortable with the reforms. It is not surprising to us. Embracing change after years of calcified noncompliance won’t be easy for some stakeholders. But we will continue to support and reward those who are willing to change.
“We are putting modalities in place to encourage voluntary compliance in the Command.
We hope that this will create Standard Operational Procedure which is a precursor for
a level playing ground for all.
“It is my hope too that the continuous automation of our processes will accelerate these reforms and address some of the challenges our stakeholders point out, such as the downtime of servers.
It is also hoped that the stakeholders will help to sustain the gains made, especially in clearing the port access road. This includes the media who are pleading to help highlight positive developments in the industry” he concluded
