Poised to boost transportation of cargoes through rail, the
Apapa Area Command of
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Wednesday met with key stakeholders.
The meeting was essentially convened to enhance trade facilitation and optimize cargo transportation through the rail system.
Present at the meeting were representatives of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), importers and exporters associations, clearing agents and freight forwarders associations, port regulators as well as terminal operators.The stakeholders brainstormed on ways 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) of the command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu PhD, said that the meeting was in line with the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi MFR, to improve logistics through multimodal transport systems.
In Comptroller Olomu’s words: “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.”
The CAC 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.
The NRC Head of Operations, Mr Akin Oshinowo, who represented his organization reiterated the agency’s longstanding cooperation with the Nigeria Customs.
According to Oshinowo: “We have always found a willing partner in the Comptroller 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 in Nigeria.”
The 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 also featured an interactive session during which participants discussed the challenges facing cargo rail transport and proposed actionable solutions for improvement.