The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has engaged the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), in a strategic partnership that will translate to quick evacuation of cargo from the port through rail transport.
The engagement, which was at the instance of the Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi, was meant to encourage and prioritize the use of rail transport for evacuation of goods to engender trade facilitation.
Sunrise News gathered that the event which held on Wednesday, June 11th, had in attendance major stakeholders; such as freight forwarders, with both the Apapa Customs and the NRC expressing mutual commitment to sustain rail movement of cargo from the port.
The Apapa Port Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, noted that the meeting was in line with the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), to improve logistics through multimodal transport systems.
“Recall that rail has been in operation for quite a while, so we want to fine-tune the process to improve our trade objectives. When we have a seamless trade process, it will benefit our stakeholders who are here today.” Olomu noted.
He also lauded the commitment of the partners present at the meeting, describing their participation as a “confidence booster” that reinforces the shared goal of efficient cargo movement.
Representing the NRC, the Director of Operations, Akin Oshinowo, reiterated the agency’s longstanding cooperation with the NCS.
“We have always found a willing partner in the Comptroller-General and his men, which forms part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) established years ago.”
“The discussion we had today aligns with the NRC’s objectives and supports the renewed hope agenda for rail transportation by the present administration in Nigeria,” he said.
Stakeholders commended the initiative, noting its potential to reduce the cost of imports and improve the overall efficiency of cargo distribution.
The National Coordinator of the Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders, Importers & Exporters Coalition, Dr Osita Chukwu, said, “With what the government is doing, we hope it will not be limited to just one region but extended across the entire country, as is the case elsewhere.”
The engagement featured an interactive session during which participants discussed the challenges facing cargo rail transport and proposed actionable solutions for improvement.
