By Innocent Orok
Stakeholders operating at Tin Can Island Port have assured the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dera Nnadi that they will partner with him to make the Tin Can Island Port a hub for Trade Facilitation and fast clearance of cargoes.
Remember, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, the Customs Area Controller of Nigeria’s second largest and besiest port has declared year 2024 as the year of “Stakeholders”. His declaration was intended to make Tin Can Island Port user friendly and stakeholders hub for Trade Facilitation and fast clearance of Cargoes, without compromise to duty collection, anti- smuggling and national security.
In a bid to review and enhance trade at Tin Can Island Port Comptroller Nnadi and his Management on Thursday held a strategic stakeholders meeting to review activities at the Command.
The meeting was attended by chieftains of Clearing and Freight Forwarding associations among them, Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), among others.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Comptroller Nnadi stated that the dialogue was necessary to collectively review the operations at the Tin Can Island port for continuous improvement, even as he identified the recent clearance of traffic along the Tin Can/ Mile 2 port access road as a major factor to enhance port operations and patronage at the Tin Can Island Port.
Comptroller Dera Nnadi said key decisions were reached at the meeting, among them are:
The office of the Command’s Public Relations Officer will be collaborating with the Enforcement Unit and Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), to function as Dispute Resolution Centres and also provide interventions whenever stakeholders are aggrieved.
As part of efforts to address shortcomings in the Command’s operations and attend to stakeholder complains, the Command will introduce a Suggestion box for stakeholders to anonymously disseminate information that could improve the Command’s activities without fear of victimization, among other solutions.
Nnadi said: “The meeting was firstly an opportunity to congratulate freight forwarders who are our core stakeholders. It also availed a platform to review our activities for optimal performance because the port is a very dynamic environment. Almost everyday there are new regulations and changes in government policies, therefore there is a need for us to continuously engage our stakeholders.
“Recall that for several years the Tin Can Island Port access road was impassable thereby creating apathy as shippers avoided the port. Service delivery was poor during that period, but today the situation has changed and we encouraged freight forwarders to notify their shippers that TCIP now has a good environment for trade. The turnaround time for trucks bearing containers has improved significantly to the extent that operators could achieve 3 or more trips in a day”.
He also inform that one of the major seaport terminals at Tin Can Island Port, Five Star Logistics has unveiled an automated pedestrian access control system to sanitize the port, collect port user’s data, curb pilferage and address security challenges.
“We also addressed collective integrity of freight agents and Customs officers, emphasizing the need for voluntary compliance. We recommended that all officers of the Command must embrace trade facilitation as a tool for effective service delivery,” Comptroller Nnadi said.
According to the Area Controller, the freight forwarders as well as Customs officials have a collective responsibility to contribute to improved service delivery and market the port for more patronage.
“The credit for import and export via this port really goes to the freight agents because they get the businesses. If we promote an idea that port business doesn’t thrive at TCIP, we discourage shippers; but our plan should be to encourage them, while we address the challenges at the port”.
Comptroller Nnadi appeal to the stakeholders to be compliant in their clearing process as this will enhanced trade facilitation and safe cost , while promoting ease of doing business at the port.
Also speaking, the National Chairman, NAGAFF Elders Council, Prince Ignatius Nwachukwu, encouraged participants at the meeting to take the information and strategies shared at the meeting to their association members.
Nwachukwu observed that freight agents had perceived the TCIP Customs boss as tough and harsh, but after the fruitful interaction the Area Controller only seeks to prioritize national interest.
“Take the discussion to your workers, colleagues, friends and members of your association. We should also explain some of the issues to those assistants and workers who engage the Customs officials in day-to-day port operations,” the freight forwarder said.
