Customs assures of seamless operations at Lekki Port

The Nigeria Customs Service has assured users of port services of a total commitment to provide and guarantee efficient services at Lekki Port.

Mohammed Babandede, the Customs area controller of Lekki Area Command, gave the assurance during the 2024 Roadshow organised by Lekki Port and Lekki Freeport Terminal in conjunction with the Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos recently.

Babandede said the officers of the Command have been fully trained and equipped to manage operations and to ensure quick evacuation of cargo from the port.

Also, the management of Lekki Port and Lekki Freeport Terminal assured stakeholders of the opportunity to enjoy the use of Lekki Port and its facilities.

Laurence Smith, chief operating officer of Lekki Port, said the roadshow was an opportunity to inform potential port users of the ease of doing business in Lekki Port.

“Lekki Port is a game changer that would revolutionise the maritime sector in Nigeria and West Africa, given the sophisticated equipment and facilities available,” he said.

On his part, Dirk Van Acker, chief operating officer of Lekki Freeport Terminal, said customers stand to benefit a lot by using the port, being the only port in Nigeria with the largest carrying capacity as it can handle throughput of 1.2 million twenty equivalent units of containers.

“At the Lekki Freeport Terminal, excellent customer service is at the core of what we do, and we have counters strategically located at Lekki and Apapa,” he said.

In his presentation, Kehinde Olubi-Neye, chief commercial officer of Lekki Freeport Terminal, said the port is fully automated and it will enable the users of the port to enjoy cost savings.

He said the port is efficient such that the turnaround time for cargo takes less than 1 hour while dwell time at the truck park takes not more than 10 days.

Daniel Odibe, deputy chief operating officer of Lekki Port, said the port uses technology which limits human interface in its process of cargo clearance and evaluation.

He added that the sophisticated equipment at the port is automated and designed to comply with Environmental Protection Standards.

Some stakeholders commended the management of Lekki Port and Lekki Freeport Terminal as well as the Lagos State government for the world-class port facilities and quality of the road infrastructure.

Others commended Lekki Port for redefining the maritime landscape with sophisticated equipment that has helped immensely to improve turnaround time for cargo evacuation.