By Stephen Ubanna
Importers with their Clearing Agents who are used to taking delivery of their cargoes at the nation’s premier port, Apapa, by cutting corners with the active connivance of Customs personnel appears to have learnt their lessons the hard way.
This is because of the stringent security measures that was said to have been initiated by Frank Oyeka, A Deputy Comptroller and officer –in-charge of the Apapa port exit gate with the active backing of Compt. Babatunde Olomu, the Command Area Controller.
An agent who spoke to the Value News Mgazine online had said that in the past it was ease to maneuver their way at the APM Container terminal and the Bulk cargoes terminal at the premier port and still exit the port with ease.
The agent who spoke to the Value News online Magazine on condition of anonymity had said that DC. Oyeka, and his officers at the exit gate, who may be acting out a script have made them to learn their lesson the hard way because of the insistence that the right thing must be done.
unlike in the past where importers struggle to win the attention of the Head of the exit gate to sign their documents to facilitate the delivery off their cargoes to their client’s warehouse at Alaba International Market or ASPANDA Trade Fair Complex along the Lagos- Badagry Expressway , Lagos, the nation’s Commercial nerve centre, the situation is different now.
There are chairs that was said to have been provided the agents awaiting to see DC. Oyeka, overseeing the exit gate with their clients’ documents for signing outside the DC’s office. The agents, according to an insider takes their turns to see the DC, based on appointment and the nature of the job.
Given that the Apapa Customs Command do not want to be associated with any bad job delivered at the Alaba International market or ASPANDA Trade Fair Complex, may have informed why DC. Oyeka, who oversees the Apapa exit gate is very thorough in scrutinizing the Bill of Laden and other import documents presented to his office.
Perhaps, to ensure that there is no question market on any of the import documents that may have beenscrutinized at the exit gate by the office, may have informed why the Customs Deputy Comptroller regularly shuttles between the exit gate and the Customs Processing Centre, CPC, to make some clarifications on some imports documents and the required duties that ought to be paid.
The Customs Deputy Comptroller, appears to have gotten it right as importers with the agents now make correct declarations and make correct assessment of their Consignments in order to make appropriate duty payments. It is not surprising why cargoes including trucks released at the terminals located inside the Apapa port are no longer subjected to routine checks at the exit gate by officers as the truck laden Containers or bulk cargoes exit the gate with ease.
The Value News Magazine online in an underground investigations had stayed at a strategic location outside the port on Wednesday,August 28, 2024, to observe the movement of trucks laden Containers and heavy duty vehicles outside the port. The Value News Magazine sighted some heavy duty Yellow vehicles and trucks laden with Containers exit the gate without disturbance.
Compt. Kola Oladeji, Area Controller, FOU, Zone A, may not have come out to openly commend hisCompt. Olomu, his Counterpart at Apapa Command and the officers at the exit gate but he is happy the turn of events at the premier port compared to the situation in the past where imported Consignments including items that had contravened the government fiscal policy exit the port with ease on orders from above.
Camilus Amajuoyi, President General, of Alaba International Amalgamated Council of Sectional Heads of the Electronic ,market who had described the market as a ‘’sick child’’, because of the constant raid FOU, personnel, over alleged discovered cases of falsely declared cargoes without appropriate payment of duties from the Lagos ports of Apapa and Tincan Island Port Terminal Multi-services Limited, PMTL, Kirikirikiri Lighter Terminal, phases I and II, that had been delivered at the market.
Given the Comptroller General of Customs move to have new set of officers that could do the job unblemished at the ports and the Land border Areas may have informed why he has charged the junior officers who recently underwent the three months of rigorous training programme at Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada , Abuja, the General Capital Territory , ‘’to embrace professionalism and culture of adding value to the service’’.
Bello Jibo, the service, Deputy Comptroller General , Finance, Administration and Technical Services, FATS, would want the officers to see the knowledge that had been gained from the three months training programme as the foundation to showing their commitment ‘’to continuous learning and development that will define their success and confidence’’to serve the service with honour and lead with integrity’’. Indeed, the performance of the Apapa port exit gate officers in the recent time which bears marks of professionalism and integrity speaks volume.
Jibo, the Customs Deputy Comptroller General, superintending FAT, who was said to had repeatedly urged both the senior and junior officers to show unwavering Commitment to the pursuit of excellence in Customs operations and administrations, had said that it is the only way ‘’to improve on their skills and knowledge of the Customs job’’, meaning the future of the NCS, is very bright.
