The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian orts Authority (NPA) have resolved to replicate 24 hours port operations at all seaports nationwide following the successes recorded by the pilot programme at Tin Can Island Port (TCIP).

In other to attain this, Customs officials as well as other port operators may be assigned shifts as the nation’s seaports moves into an era of full-scale 24 hours port operations.
The Customs Area Controller of TCIP Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, while addressing the Command officers during a parade, commended the Command’s officers for their good performance in the first quarter of 2024.
However, he challenged the officials to put in more efforts for better results in the second quarter.

“We surpassed the 2024 Q1 target by 139 per cent and equally did exploits in anti-smuggling. Each and every one of you contributed to that success. Every success comes with a prize and I know that most of you have sacrificed long hours in order to make these revenue records and high profile seizures.
“Two weeks ago, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, was in Lagos and met with Managing Director of NPA, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko and some port stakeholders to extend night operations to all port commands,” he said.
On the Time Release Studies (TRS), he encouraged Customs officers and freight forwarders to meticulously fill the questionnaires disseminated to collate data on the timelines for several aspects of cargo clearance.

“We have seen that there is complete apathy to research in the port environment. However, we have co-opted Corpers to assist in collecting survey questionnaires. For our officers, we expect them to check if the declarant captured the time the vessels arrived; time for conducting examination; time it took for releasing officer to release the cargo; the time to conclude with shipping companies and terminals; and also the time duration to exit the ports,” he added.

Meanwhile, during the parade, some awards were dolled out to exemplary officers and high-performing units at the Command even as the Area Controller stressed that everyone serving at the Command deserves commendation for the success in the first quarter of 2024.

Earlier, Comptroller Nnadi described parades as a test of discipline, an avenue for keeping officer’s fit and an opportunity for disseminating information to the officers.

“Parade is also a feedback mechanism for Customs officials to receive clarity, explain their challenges or ask questions on issues that they feel the management have to address. Today’s parade was an opportunity to appraise our performance in the first quarter and plan for the next quarter.”
“We are focused on maximizing our revenue generation and creating a conducive environment for the Time Release Studies (TRS) that we are conducting. The goal is to get the best out of the system for our stakeholders,” he said.