Determined to clear the backlog of cargoes stocked at the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa, as a result of the two-week strike embarked upon by clearing agents, Apapa area command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has resumed full weekend operation aimed at fast-tracking the clearance of the containers.
Charles Edike, Customs area controller of the command, who disclosed this in Lagos also said that the command has cautioned officers against issuing “frivolous” queries on consignments so as to avoid unnecessary delay in cargo clearance process.
“The officers have now commenced full weekend operation. Before the strike, weekend operations in Apapa was skeletal but now we want to see it as a duty so that we can clear the backlog and there must be no frivolous queries at all because it causes delay and time is money,” Edike stated.
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According to the Customs boss, officers must ensure proper examination of containers for security reasons even though they must also avoid delaying containers unduly given the situation at hand. “If they say because there is rush and containers are not properly examined, you may not know that the one that was not properly examined may be carrying something offensive,” he said.
