By Uzor Odigbo
A combination of punctuality, commitment to duty and non compromise to rules has made Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Customs Command the fastest in Nigeria.
Mrs. Morenike Oladunni, Customs Area Controller in charge of KLT Command disclosed this while addressing top officers, agents and importers at a close of work get together in honour of a retired Assistant Comptroller.
She lauded the quick resumption and extra hours commitment of her officers who, according to her, ensures no consignment is delayed and no official document is left unattended to.
Oladunni told the gathering that after the lodgement of Single Goods Declaration (SGD) forms , no consignment with genuine declaration suffers delay as they get exited from the port within 48 hours.
She described her team as a model of customs dream for improved modernisation, always pursuing facilitation of legitimate trade and keeping to government’s Ease of Doing Business policy.
She said: “I must commend the way we put ourselves in check to ensure no one breaks our chain of optimum productivity in customs operations. We must, at all times keep to the rules and directives of our Controller General in evolving a better Nigeria Customs Service.
“We have become the fastest customs port in Nigeria and should be a good example for others to follow. We must not disappoint our country because our efficiency rubs off positively on other sectors.
“I appreciate your punctuality and extra time put into service. The results of these reflects in our revenue profile and zero tolerance for infractions.
“It looked impossible initially but with the cooperation of everyone, we are achieving results and we cannot afford to go lower than this . We should not get complacent and relax either. Our Controller General believes in us and we must not fail him and the country.
“To you, importers and agents, your key to faster cargo clearance is compliance. If you continue being compliant, starting with sincere declaration, accurate duty payment and always obeying import and export guidelines including obeying government prohibition orders, be sure of customs best of service.
Oladunni described Mrs Juliet Akabogu, a recently retired Assistant Comptroller in the command as a loyal and diligent officer of the service. She also wished her success in her future endeavours as she exits
As at end of August 2019, the command made a total collection of N9,497,704,598 which represents over 93 percent of total revenue target for 2019. Collected figure for this year also surpassed N6,302,228,485 made by the command within same period of 2018