By Uzor Odigbo
Even as the Lilypond Terminal at Ijora in Lagos, has been converted to a Truck Transit Park (TTP), officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have expressed shock over rejection and abandonment by management to redeploy them out of the once called Tin Can 2 Command.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), recently, converted the terminal to a truck call up system park, in furtherance to decongest the port access road.
Investigations last week, confirmed that the Area Controller, Comptroller Lami Wushishi has been redeployed to Ogun Area Command,while the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Farouk Abubakar has been directed to join his colleagues at the Lagos/Lekki Free Trade Zone.
The officers were seen idling away in some of the abandoned Lilypond offices, while others sighted by our correspondent, were busy in the mosque citing the Quoran.
Some of the dilapidated offices at the command have been occupied by truck drivers and conductors who await their vehicles call up.
Personnel of the Nigerian Police Force and officials of the NPA also occupied the conducive offices available.
Sources also told our correspondent that at least 85 per cent of customs officials at the Lilypond Terminal awaits redeployment while 15 per cent have been redeployed out of the command.
While awaiting redeployment, they confirmed also that management has not released any circular or provisional list as to the next batch of personnel that might luckily leave the moribund command.
“We have quite a number of officers and men here awaiting redeployment since this place no longer exist as a command.
“But it has lingered for long and nobody is saying anything about how we can be redeployed out of Lilypond.
“For the past four months when this place ceased to exist as a full-fledged command we just come here, sit and count number of trucks and containers in and out the facility.
“It is frustrating I must say. Management is yet to say anything .Those that are highly connected in the service have left and those that don’t have any link up there are here worried,’ our reliable source lamented.
