Apapa Command Engages Stakeholders To Boost Cargo Delivery Through Rail

The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, has reinstated its commitment in working with other stakeholders towards to boost trade facilitation and optimizing cargo delivery through the rail lines.

This commitment was stated by the Customs Area Controller (CAC), of Apapa Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu Phd, at an engagement with various stakeholders which included the representatives from Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC),held at the command on Wednesday.

Comptroller Olomu said the meeting was inline with the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi MFR to improve logistics through multimodal transport systems.

Reiterating the importance of rail system in the logistics chain distribution and the need to enhance it's operation, the CAC said, “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".

Olomu 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 representative of the NRC, the Head of Operations, Akin Oshinawo, reiterated the agency’s longstanding cooperation with the Service, he said, “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 of Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for rail transportation in Nigeria,” he said.

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.

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