Contrabands blocking Apapa rail track are to be removed by NPA, says Customs
The Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) has alleged that seized contraband goods blocking the rail track leading to Nigeria’s biggest seaport in Apapa Lagos are to be removed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
NCS, in a reaction to SlyeNews report on “Customs blocks Apapa port rail track with contrabands” said it was not the responsibility of Customs to remove the contrabands, but that of NPA.
Public Relation Officer, Apapa Area Command of NCS, Abubakar Usman said: “The contraband seized by Customs are to be moved by NPA not by the Nigeria Customs Service.
“This process includes some administrative exchange between the two agencies, which had already taken place. Logistics are already underway to evacuate the containers to government warehouse Ikorodu,” he stated.
The Project Manager, Team Construction Company, Mrs Precious Ebare, had earlier alleged that some of the contraband goods seized by Customs were on the rail track and slowing completion of the track to the terminal.
Ebare also said the Customs long room situated around the rail track was yet to be demolished, making it difficult for the construction company to proceed with the project.
But Usman said: “ The long room is not meant to be demolished. Customs long room is outside the port, far away from where the construction is ongoing. Furthermore, the rail track is designed to bypass the scanning site, making room for part of the building to be demolished,”
Efforts to reach NPA were not successful, as its spokesman, Nasir Ibrahim was unable to respond to enquiries as at press time.
