REVENUE DRIVE: Journalist Advocates For Customs Mgt To Designate Bonded Terminals To KLT Command

Media Practitioner ,Comrade Roland Ekama has called on management of the Nigeria Customs Service to re-strategize by designating all bonded terminals in Lagos to Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command for effective revenue drive and trade facilitation.

Ekama, who is the Managing Editor, DAILY FOCUS NIGERIA in a chat with newsmen in Lagos, suggested to management of the service to revamp the KLT formation as a veritable tool to boosting its revenue profile and to compete favourably with the flagship command of Apapa; and Tin Can Island Commands respectively.

According to the journalist, KLT Command has suffered setbacks for over a decade by failing to surpass its revenue target thus designating the off dock terminals to it would aid the revitalisation of the once busy command.

Ekama stressed that ahead of the peak period which attracts high cargo volume, crowd control within the ports in Lagos should be discouraged adding that since KLT is lying fallow it can accommodate those with off dock activities.

The media practitioner stated that bonded terminals within Amuwo Odofin, Ojo, Badagry, Orile Iganmu, Ijora etc in Lagos State currently designated to Apapa and Tin Can Command respectively which has also contributed immensely to the revenue profile of the two aforementioned units of customs should be reassigned to the command for survival.

He noted that KLT Command is strategically located for onward movement of cargoes outside the port zones to the off dock facilities.

Whilst highlighting the benefits , he maintained that: “This will boost the command’s revenue drive and will also bring about a robust and healthy competition among the big two revenue generating command at the mother seaports.

He pointed out that:”Apapa and Tin Can Island Commands of the Nigeria Customs Service have loads of activities to tackle in terms of revenue collection and trade facilitation, therefore, I will advise the Comptroller General of customs CGC Adewale Adeniyi and his management team to reduce the tension of these two commands and allow KLT Command breathe again.”

The journalist recalled that KLT Command has poorly performed in terms of revenue generation thus, more tariff collection from bonded terminals if assigned by management would aid freight forwarders, shippers and other ancillary service providers promote trade facilitation.

Highlighting revenue drive of the command in 2023, Ekama stated that the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, generated a paltry N53. 4 billion in the year 2023, in addition to processing a total of 399 containers of agro products and solid minerals , whilst compared with a command like Apapa Command which raked in a whooping N1.6tn as revenue in the third quarter of 2023 alone.

He added that whilst Tin Can Island Command generated a whooping N716. 53 billion in 2023 and PTML with N257 billion .

The journalist opined that KLT has potentials to hit the bull eyes if allowed to explore key areas like the aforementioned suggested facilities.