Taking a decisive step towards decongesting ports nationwide, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) is set to dispose of approximately 7,000 containers categorized as overtime cargoes that have been stranded in various ports.
To facilitate this initiative, the Comptroller-General, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, has established a dedicated committee to oversee the disposal process.
The move comes in response to the provisions of the new Customs Act, empowering the NCS to clear ports of containers that have surpassed their allotted time.
Confirming the development, Abdullahi Maiwada, the Customs spokesperson, highlighted the significance of ports’ decongestion as a key objective for the Customs Service. He emphasized its potential to enhance trade facilitation and improve overall port’s efficiency.
During the committee’s inauguration, Adeniyi noted, “Approximately six months ago, the new NCS Act received the former President Mohammed Buhari’s signature, ushering in substantial modifications to the previous protocols governing the disposal of overtime cargo.
The Act specifies that goods must be disposed of through public auction or tender, widely publicized in advance through national newspapers, television, and the service’s official website.”
Durowaiye Ayodele, the General Manager at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), expressed relief at the decision to clear over 7,000 overdue containers that have occupied valuable economic space for years across various ports.
He highlighted the positive impact on port operations, stating, “We have containers that have been there for over ten years, occupying economic space for which we are unable to dispose of. So, this is a significant relief for our operations.”
The Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, Greg Itotoh, underscored that with the support of the NPA, the changes and new procedures would lead to more streamlined trade operations.
The newly formed committee, chaired by a senior Customs officer, includes representatives from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Service (DSS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control, a representative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, among others.
