Comptroller Olanrewaju Olumoh, in charge of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, has restated the commitment of the service to improve Trade Facilitation and ease of doing business within the Free Zones.
Comptroller Olumoh pledged during his maiden working visit to Alaro City and Lekki Free Zones on Thursday, 9 May 2024.
According to him, the visit is to better understand the operations of the free zones under his command. “I am coming to renew our pledge of support and dedication to the continuous development of the zones. The Nigerian Government, through the NCS, is very much committed to the overriding goal of making the free zones economically rewarding to the nation. We appreciate you having these investments here”.
“It is our duty and responsibility to provide you with that positive climate, that enabling environment for you to flourish, so I want to assure you that you can always count on us in the command of anything that will hinder you. Please, my doors are open, and I have a listening ear to address your concern and to do everything possible to get these barriers out for you to thrive”. The CAC stated.
Adetayo Oduwole, Head of Operations, Alaro City Free Zone, as well as the Managing Director, Lekki Free Zone Development Company, Zhang Bin, appreciated the Customs Area Controller for his visit while also pledging their compliance with stipulated procedures.
At the Customs Processing Centre, Comptroller Olumoh urged officers to stick to the core values of the service, as the leadership under Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, is very much passionate about promoting a service-oriented approach in Customs operations.
“Trade facilitation and Ease of Doing Business is paramount. At no point in the chain would we want to see any needless delay that can ultimately be detrimental to the nation’s economy “. He said.
On his tour assessment, Comptroller Olumoh expressed delight at the enormous investments in the free zones. “I’m happy we have enterprises here taking advantage of these opportunities. So, my tour around our zones today has been for me to renew the fact that the Customs Command here will not depart from that pledge of continued support and cooperation in ensuring that our trade facilitation is enhanced and ease of doing business is improved”.
“That has been the key point we have been emphasising to all these enterprises, to assure them of our support so that they can fully explore the potential that abounds in this great country”.
Comptroller Olumoh urged the enterprises to imbibe a culture of voluntary compliance, which will allow for seamless customs processes.
He assured stakeholders of a friendly climate for trade and commerce to flourish in the free zones.
The CAC visited the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Lagos Free Zone, and other enterprises within the Zone.