The Era of Cutting Corners is no More says Malanta

... new CAC vows 100 per cent physical examination of cargoes

Ejiro Thomas

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - The out-going Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Area 1 Command, Malanta Ibrahim Yusuf, has said that the era of cutting corners around trade facilitation is over.

L-R. New CAC Apapa Area 1 Customs Command, Mohammed Auwal; and out-going CAC, Malanta Ibrahim as the later hands over to his successor earlier today.

Yusuf made the statement this morning in his opening speech at the hand-over ceremony to the new Area Controller, Mohammed Auwal.

This is coming on the heels of the Command's unprecedented revenue collection of over one trillion naira recorded in the year 2022 amidst a global economic recession and general trade downtime.

Malanta stated that stakeholders must ensure honest declaration of their cargo to fast track the trade process and make for competitiveness in the demand and supply value chain.

"I understand that trade is going down.  There are so many unpredictability in trade today. I always say, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. The era of cutting corners is over. Go straight (in your trade practices) and you would be there in no time. 

"Trade is more predicted when you are compliant. Declare the true content of your cargo. Declare the full value of your cargo. Remember, custom duty is aggregated by a compound of cost of goods, freight and insurance. It is only when you declare your actual cost, freight and insurance that trade can be competitive and cargo can move," he said.

On his part the new CAC, Mohammed Auwal, promised to sustain the tempo of excellence being laid down by the outgoing CAC as he charged that releasing and examination officers ensure 100 per cent physical examination of cargoes.

"I am inheriting a well structured Command . The status achieved so far has nothing to be done rather than sustaining the tempo. or look for other ways to possibly improved on. I want to urge the releasing and examination officers no person, no package, no container should leave Apapa Port without undergoing proper and full physical examination. 

"This should be done so that we don't release a cargo in error. Thank you for your continued support," he said.

Auwal noted that as he would uphold the ethics of the service and ensure that trade facilitation moves smoothly and in record time while vowing to ensure engagement of stakeholders to ensure compliance with extant trade laws.