Customs ban PoS operators from Apapa command premises
The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, has announced a ban on commercial activities, including Point of Sale operators, from its premises and other related formations.
The decision follows outcomes from the recently concluded Comptroller General of Customs Conference, which was held last week in Abuja.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Babatunde Olomu, made this announcement while addressing officers and staff during a parade. He also revealed that officers are now prohibited from participating in cargo clearance activities.
He explained that one of the key outcomes from the conference is the continued diligent examination of import and export cargo, with the deployment of 100 per cent physical examination where necessary.
Additionally, it was agreed that officers in the enforcement unit should avoid issuing indiscriminate intervention alerts, which can create the impression that service personnel are working at cross purposes. He stressed that the service should operate as one cohesive unit.
“Other outcomes from the conference include the banning of commercial activities within customs formations and premises. This includes the engagement of PoS operators near customs offices and customs officers doubling as licensed clearing agents, which conflicts with their official mandates,” Olomu said.
The Apapa Customs boss also disclosed that the CGC had announced compulsory and routine medical checks for all officers during the conference.
Olomu further stated that the command had achieved a revenue collection of N2.01 trillion as of November 19, 2024, and was on track to meet its N2.2 trillion target for the year by the end of the month.
He noted that the command draws inspiration from the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who announced a total collection of N5.07 trillion by the service on Tuesday at the CGC Conference in Abuja.
According to Olomu, the Apapa Port Command plays a critical role in the overall performance of the service nationwide, contributing 40 per cent of the total N5.07 trillion target met so far.
He emphasised that this achievement underscores the high expectations and responsibility placed on the command.
Olomu urged officers to follow the examples set by CGC Adeniyi in revenue collection, trade facilitation,
uncompromising enforcement, and sustained stakeholder engagement in both the service and the national interest.
He encouraged officers to maintain the high standards set in organisation and ensure that seizures made from smugglers are backed with suspects for prosecution, as arresting smugglers along with their contraband would have a greater impact on the fight against smuggling.
Olomu also updated the officers on important highlights from the CGC Conference, noting that the theme of the conference aligns with that of the World Customs Organisation, which seeks to leverage achievable gains from cordial relationships across organisations and individuals to achieve customs goals.
