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TCIP Inspires Customs, NPA To Replicate Nighttime Operations At Seaports Nationwide

  • Comptroller Nnadi rewards explempary officers, high-performing units

The leadership of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have resolved to replicate nighttime operations at all seaports nationwide following the successes at the pilot program at Tin Can Island Port (TCIP).

In a bid to actualize this, Customs officials as well as other port opertors may be assigned shifts as the nation’s seaports moves into an era of full-scale 24hour port operations.

The Customs Area Controller of TCIP Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, revealed this while addressing the Command officers during a parade on Tuesday.

TCIP Inspires Customs, NPA To Replicate Nighttime Operations At Seaports Nationwide
The Customs Area Controller of TCIP Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, inspecting officers during the parade on Tuesday.

While commending the Command’s officers for their good performance in the first quarter of 2024, Nnadi challenged the officials to put in more efforts for better results in the second quarter.

His words: “We surpassed the 2024 Q1 target by 139℅ 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 MFR, 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.”

TCIP Inspires Customs, NPA To Replicate Nighttime Operations At Seaports Nationwide
The Customs Area Controller of TCIP Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, in a handshake with one of the Command’s senior officers during the parade.

Speaking on 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 declaratant 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,” the Customs boss stated.

TCIP Inspires Customs, NPA To Replicate Nighttime Operations At Seaports Nationwide
The Deputy Comptroller in-charge of Enforcement, DC Aliyu Gambo (left) receiving an award certificate on behalf of the Enforcement Unit from the Deputy Comptroller, Administration, DC Balogun; during the parade on Tuesday.

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.

TCIP Inspires Customs, NPA To Replicate Nighttime Operations At Seaports Nationwide
R-L: The Public Relations Officer, Tin Can Island Port Command, Ngozi Okwara, receiving an award certificate from the Deputy Comptroller, Administration, DC Balogun; during the parade on Tuesday.

“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 apprasie 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 remarked.

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