Collapsed port access road impedes trade facilitation — Customs 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called for immediate fixing of the Oshodi – Apapa expressway leading to Tin Can Island seaport in Lagos saying the service can’t facilitate trade with the state of the road.

This plea was made by the Public Relations Officer of the Tin Can Island Command of the service, Uche Ejesieme in Lagos over the weekend.
According to him, no trade can be facilitated in the seaport without surrounding infrastructure in good shape.

He said, “Some of the facilities around the ports can be improved. We know that the federal government has awarded the contract for the road reconstruction and I’m sure that with the kind of listening government that we have, the problem would be addressed so that trade facilitation is real.

“You can’t talk about trade facilitation without the requisite infrastructure. Infrastructure is very critical. At Tin Can, aside the road challenge we have been working assiduously to meet up with our obligations.”

Ejesieme further spoke about the relationship that existed between the service and other agencies at the port.

He said the service involve them especially the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in cargo examination.

SON is linked to our single window. As soon as we see anything that requires their presence we escalate it electronically.
“Last week, one of the Deputy Controllers at Port and Cargo Terminal called me about a cargo that requires the input of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Agency (NESREA). We can’t do our job and also do that of other agencies.

We have imbibed the spirit of collaboration and synergy. Once we see a declaration that requires National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) or SON, we send notifications electronically. If anyone says Customs releases consignments without recourse to these agencies, I don’t think the person knows what he is talking about.”

Speaking on the success recorded by the command, Ejesieme said, “There is a saying that it isn’t enough for someone to be successful, what matters most is the ability to sustain that success. “This is what the Area Controller is trying to do at Tin Can. Recall that in 2018, we did well and our performance resulted to the award from the World Customs Organization (WCO).”

In January 2019, we had strategic meetings with key stakeholders at the port to fine tune our operations to enable us not only maintain our high standards but also surpass them. Our emphasis isn’t only on revenue collection and seizures but we are also concerned about creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.”
“We want to make sure that people who are coming to invest in Nigeria don’t find a harsh business environment.”
“This is our focus and that’s why we continue to call on stakeholders to make compliance their watchword. Once you comply and anyone tries to extort you, you can bring the matter to this helpdesk which is directly under the CAC and you can be sure that you would get justice as quickly as possible.”

“However, we beckon on Nigerians to understand the critical role that customs is playing at this crucial part of the nation’s existence. We need all the support we can get in terms of compliance to the fiscal policies of the nation.”