By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Muritala Mu'azu |
Comptroller Murtala Mu'azu, Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Apapa Area Command, has launched a comprehensive stakeholder sensitisation program centered on the newly automated overtime cargo clearance framework.
The interactive session, convened on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, brought together senior customs officers and vital maritime industry stakeholders including port operators and importers to transition operations away from sluggish manual approvals toward a seamless digital process.
Opening the event, Comptroller Mu'azu stressed that moving away from legacy, paper-reliant methods was imperative. Under the former structure, identifying long-standing cargo and transmitting manual reports to headquarters created severe operational lags and administrative mismatches.
"The determination of the duration of stay of cargo, as well as the compilation and referral to headquarters, were all done manually. But we realised that there were usually gaps in the processes, particularly between the period when these compilations were made and when decisions were taken," Mu'azu stated.
He further illustrated how real-time discrepancies hampered operations under the legacy framework:
"Before now, command officers might examine cargo that had stayed for 31 or 32 days and submit a report to headquarters. Before a decision was taken, the cargo might have moved into another category, thereby creating an issue with the appropriate level of clearance."
The new automated platform eliminates repetitive documentation, redundant physical submissions, and prolonged waiting periods. By digitizing tracking and authorization workflows, clearance responsibilities are streamlined without relying on multi-tiered manual referrals.
Mu'azu noted that the primary goal of the workshop was to equip command officers with immediate expertise to validate and approve overtime cargo applications swiftly. He added that broader training sessions tailored to terminal operators and other port users will follow shortly.
Concluding the session, the CAC reassured the maritime community that dedicated ICT teams and technical facilitators remain on standby to offer ongoing guidance, guaranteeing a smooth operational transition across the Apapa corridor.