Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations has urged the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Tincan Island Port Command, to maintain heightened vigilance in preventing the influx of substandard and harmful products into the country.
The lawmakers made the call during an oversight visit to the Command, aimed at ensuring that Customs operations align with global best practices and uphold national safety standards.
Speaking during the visit, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, emphasized the Service’s mandate to prioritize national security and facilitate legitimate trade.
“In Tincan Island Port, we prioritize national security, trade facilitation, and revenue generation. Our activities are guided by the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which mandates us to ensure that what is declared is what is seen, and that proper duties are paid promptly,” Comptroller Onyeka stated.
He added that the Command has maintained a strong inter-agency collaboration with relevant authorities to ensure adequate cargo checks and timely intervention whenever consignments are suspected to contain harmful or substandard products.
“In situations where we suspect a cargo contains anything that might harm society, we invite the appropriate authorities, and we have sustained this progressive synergy to date,” he noted.
Chairman of the Committee, David Zacharias, commended the Command for its efforts, describing the visit as a crucial step toward strengthening safety compliance across Nigeria’s trade corridors.
“We understand that protecting our communities against substandard products is a joint responsibility. The safety of Nigerians is non-negotiable, and we must all do our best to uphold that,” he stated.
Other members of the Committee also shared recommendations on strategies to curb the circulation of unsafe goods, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration between government agencies and port stakeholders to safeguard the nation’s borders.
