New CAC Olomu Pledges To Enforce New Customs Act At Apapa Port As Comptroller Jaiyeola Bows Out Of Service.
The new Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller BO Olomu pledged to enforce new customs act 2023, at Apapa port Lagos Nigeria as Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba
takes a bow after 35 years of dedicated service.
CAC BO Olomu revealed this while taking over the leadership of the Co Immand 6th may 2024 in Lagos Nigeria.
The new CAC, Comptroller Olomu said that, Nigeria holds a strategic position for trade in West and Central Africa and assured that the Apapa Port will play a critical in Nigeria’s participation in the AfCFTA.
“I see my task as CAC Apapa command as a serious assignment from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR dsm psc (+) of which our only option is to deliver diligently not only in revenue collection, fight against smuggling, but in trade facilitation and sustainable stakeholder engagement,his administration would exhibit zero tolerance for smuggling of prohibited items, concealment, and declaration for duty evasion, he said.
“My assumption of this office is with a mind of confidence that we won’t betray the trust reposed in us by the FGN, CGC and the entire management of the Nigeria Customs Service. This confidence is premised on the reality that I am taking over a very organized command, where I intend to build on the successes of my predecessor.
“Let me state unequivocally that we shall implement all the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the Common External Tariff, import and export prohibition guidelines, and other books of instruction as directed by the FGN.
“While promoting a robust customs community relation system where there will be regular interface with all government and private sector stakeholders, I shall upscale our enforcement with intelligence to ensure that only legitimate trade is allowed in Apapa Port and all the terminals within the command.
“Our tolerance level for smuggling of prohibited items, concealment, and declaration for duty evasion shall be zero and shall remain so.
“Our country holds a strategic position for trade in West and Central Africa and Apapa Port is critical in Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). We are rewing Nigeria’s readiness for improved trade with fellow African countries and the world at large.”
“I want to urge our officers to brace up for the changes that will feature as fallouts of customs modernization, otherwise called e-customs, AEO, and many other groundbreaking World Customs Organization innovations like the recently introduced advanced ruling policy, he said.
“This will enable them to enjoy more gains of trading across borders in the global supply chain in line with the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC), the WCO Supply Chain Management Guidelines, and the various national best practices.
“As a working principle, I hereby advise all our officers to treat all official matters with the speed they deserve leaving no file unattended to as such delays could mean slowing down government revenue inflow.
“Being the customs command handling the largest volume of trade in Nigeria, Apapa Command under my leadership won’t be complacent and will be open to continuous engagement with everyone.he stressed.
” My doors are open for advice on how best to achieve our mandate because we are all here to add value and do better for Nigeria,” said Olomu.
“I shall emplace a trade dispute resolution seat that will operate every day including weekends to ensure that we make this command a true front liner in global best practices in terms of customs operation for other customs formations to emulate.
In the same vein,the immediate past Controller, Babajide Jaiyeoba thanked the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, for considering him worthy to steer customs affairs at Nigeria’s flagship customs command domiciled at the busiest port in West and Central Africa.
“I can boldly say since January till now, there has been an increase in revenue collection. We set a target for ourselves, beat it, and reset another target, which, before we know it, we have also beaten it.
Because of the cooperation, because of the commitment and because of the will, all of us have to deliver. And I must say I thank all of us for that”.
“My tour of duty as Area Controller of Apapa Command ends after 8 months, it gives me great joy to recall the very suspense filled and exciting moments of goals achieved day by day, week by week and month by month culminating into tangible results for the benefit of our great country and her economy.he said.
“I won’t also take the cooperation of our sister agencies and stakeholders for granted. We jointly worked to achieve our individual organizational goals and collective interest of making Apapa port import and export friendly without undermining national security,” said Jaiyeoba.
“When I assumed office in September 2023, the assurances of support I received from officers and men on ground strengthened me and I can boldly say all we achieved during my period are products of teamwork.he said.
“We have set a standard in Apapa Command, and with or without Comptroller Jaiyeoba, we must maintain that standard. I want to plead with us that whoever is coming to take over, the same cooperation you extended to me, I want us to give the same or more than that cooperation so that together, you can deliver”.