Despite the success story on the free flow of articulated vehicles along the port corridor, management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has harped on the need to further decongest the Lagos seaports through maximising the use of barges for cargo movement.
Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi stated this at the 4th JournalNG Port Industry Town Hall meeting with the theme “The Imperative of Port Community System (PCS) for Integration of all players in Nigerian Port System.
The paper presentation was titled: “Enhancing Integration and Efficiency in Nigerian Port through the Nigeria Customs Service”.
CGC Adeniyi who was represented by the Area Controller, Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Dera Nnadi reiterated that barging activities should be more regulatory services based rather than revenue, noting that safety of cargoes are more important to monies collected by port operators and service providers.
Adeniyi stressed the need for the review of barge operations and movement of cargoes via the waterways as part of measures to boost trade facilitation and safety of goods.
He noted that port community service should be the cardinal point of all stakeholders in the maritime industry despite the current free flow of vehicular movement along port corridors in Apapa.
According to him, the importance of a port community system will enhance physical inspection of cargoes, deployment and upgrade of software system in port operations and cargo clearance.
He said: “The Nigeria Customs Service pioneered the movement of cargoes through the waterways. Just three months ago after clearing the roads, the service revive the use of barges ”
“Barge operators are critical stakeholders in port community and movement of barges has become part of the system. The evacuation of cargoes through the movement of barges should be reviewed by maximizing waterways transportation in Nigeria.
“Emphasis should be based on regulatory through safety precautions rather than revenue. Customs is in the heart of operations with government revenue generation and Lagos Ports generate 70% total revenue for the government, therefore cargo movement must be seamless”.
