by The Ajasa News | April 5, 2025 12:49 pm
By Martin Odiete, Abuja
The Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos State is gradually emerging as a significant hub for international trade and commerce in West Africa. Following the commencement of its operations, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is proactively working to maintain and sustain a crime-free environment, ensuring the facility’s security and compliance with regulations.
Comptroller Olarewanju Abduwahab Olumo has indeed played a pivotal role in achieving success at the Lekki Seaport, particularly in ensuring the port’s security and compliance with customs regulations, and it is a statement of fact that his role as a customs comptroller has been instrumental in facilitating the port’s operations at the Lekki Sea Port.
The NCS under his leadership has deployed a multi-faceted approach to secure the Lekki Seaport. One of the key strategies is the deployment of advanced technology, including scanners and surveillance cameras, to monitor all activities within the port. This technology enables customs officials to detect and prevent any illicit activities, such as smuggling or theft.
In addition to technology, the NCS has also strengthened its physical presence at the port. A team of highly trained customs officers has been stationed at the facility to conduct thorough inspections of all cargo and vessels. These officers are equipped to detect and intercept any prohibited or restricted items, ensuring that the port remains a secure and compliant environment
Comptroller Olumo explained emphatically how the high tech system at their disposal at the Lekki Sea Port has greatly enhanced the process of clearing containers at the Port.
“Our process in the Free Trade Zone has been a very smooth one. We have been able to streamline our processes, and our containers clearance in the Free Zones and the sea ports has been very very thorough.
“We are blessed with excellent scanning machines possibly the best in the country, we have them here in the Free Trade Zone here. There is a time study that within hours numerous containers would have been checked. And anyone that there is suspicion we subject them to physical examination,” he stated.
The NCS under Comptroller Olumo has also established a robust risk management system to identify and mitigate potential security threats. This system involves collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, such as the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Police Force, to share intelligence and coordinate efforts to prevent and respond to security incidents.
Furthermore, the NCS has implemented a comprehensive compliance and enforcement strategy to ensure that all stakeholders operating within the port comply with relevant laws and regulations. This includes conducting regular audits and inspections to detect and prevent any instances of non-compliance.
The efforts of the NCS under Comptroller Olumo have already begun to yield positive results. The Lekki Seaport has been declared a secure and compliant facility, and stakeholders have expressed confidence in the ability of the NCS to maintain a crime-free environment.
“We are very vigilant in the Port here. We gather intelligence and work on credible information to address any issues related to certain containers.”
“Apparently, bad players had wanted to test our waters here, so we recognized that and quickly nipped it in the bud. Yes, we are strategically located and we recognize the fact that we have both good and bad players, but our interest is in the good players in the Deep Sea Port on the Free Trade Zone,”Comptroller Olumo explained further.
The Lekki Deep Sea Port operates under the Free Zones scheme, a federal government initiative aimed at promoting industrialization and national economic development.
In conclusion, the vibrant activities of the Nigeria Customs Service have been instrumental in making the Lekki Seaport a crime-free zone. Through the deployment of advanced technology, strengthening of physical presence, establishment of risk management systems, and implementation of compliance and enforcement strategies, the NCS has demonstrated its commitment to securing the future of international trade and commerce in Nigeria.
Source URL: https://theajasanews.com/how-nigeria-customs-service-under-comptroller-olumo-is-securing-lekki-seaport-with-advanced-technology-and-strong-physical-presence/
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