Since the emergence of the Apapa/Tin Can gridlock over a decade ago, the KLT Command of the Nigerian Customs Service has been one of many of victims of dearth in cargo and inactivity . Successive Customs Area Controllers have tagged it the “Seberia Command ” where officers go and mark time until they are called up for retirement.
Carved out of Tin Can Command over a decade ago, KLT usually depended on cargo from feeder commands like Apapa and Tin Can from where containers are transferred . But eventhough this was seen as well thought out plan by the Customs High Command in Abuja to lift the burden off the busy ports of Apapa and Tin Can, this seem no longer to be paying off due to the impassable access roads leading to KLT.Besides , Customs agents no longer find it attractive to do business at KLT due to agonizing number of days it takes to move containers from the feeder ports.
But all that has changed since the dynamic Amazon of the Nigeria Customs Service , Compt Morenike Oladunni , took over. Due to her proactive engagements with stakeholders, business activities at the command has once again peaked after several years of lull. Under her watch ,the turn around time for cargo clearance is now the fastest in the Lagos business corridor making the Command now the preffered choice of customs agents. She has removed bottle necks and beauracies previously experienced by her predecessors.
Said Esther Oyeleke a foremost freight forwarder ,and a member of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, who plies her trade at KLT, ” Nike has returned this command to its glorious past. KLT is where to go if you want quick release of your cargo.The officers are so courteous and the level of compliance is unprecedented. Her doors are open 247 for us should we have any reasons for complaints or enquiries.Our prayer is for the relevant authorities to address the faling portions of the access road to compliment the efforts of this dynamic officer “, she concludes.
With five months to year end 2019, Compt Nike as she’s fondly is as good as achieving her target for the year. The revenue collected between January and July shows that 81.1 percent of its 2019 target has been achieved. When compared with the collection of 2018, it shows an increase of over 56 percent during the period under review. This success story has been attributed to the (i) robust relationship with stakeholders; (ii) 100 percent physical examination of all containers; (iii) effective application of NCIS 2 program; (iv) the resolve of officers to block all forms of revenue leakages; (v) good relationship with with sister units and other agencies within the port
By Asu Beks