Apapa Customs Boosts Cargo Movement with Stakeholder Collaboration

Apapa Customs Boosts Cargo Movement with Stakeholder Collaboration

By Prince Benson Davies

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has taken a significant step towards enhancing trade facilitation by engaging key stakeholders to optimise cargo transportation, particularly through rail, and improve overall efficiency in the Apapa port ecosystem.

At a stakeholders meeting organised by the command on Wednesday, representatives of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), importers and exporters associations, clearing agents and freight forwarders associations, port regulators and terminal operators came together to brainstorm on how to deepen adoption of the railway for exiting of cargoes from the Nigeria’s premier port.

Speaking at the meeting, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, noted that the meeting was in line with the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, to improve logistics through multimodal transport systems.
He said, “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.

He commended the partners for their active engagement, noting that their collaborative spirit was a testament to the collective effort towards seamless cargo transportation and enhanced trade facilitation.