By Mathew John

A maritime stakeholder, Eso Onwuji, has called for an urgent review of operations at the KLT Customs Area Command, in Lagos, alleging prolonged underutilisation of facilities and inadequate contribution to port efficiency over the years.

Onwuji, who claimed to have studied activities at the command for about two decades, said despite its vast landmass, inland waterway facilities and several bonded terminals under its supervision, the command had remained largely underutilised.

According to him, the situation has contributed to persistent port congestion, increased cargo dwell time and high operational costs within the maritime sector.

He said: “In my 20 years of studying the KLT Customs Area Command, I observed that instead of functioning as a port economy facilitator, the command has remained largely idle despite available infrastructure and resources. I believe there is need for a thorough review of its productivity and contribution to port operations.

“The command has substantial space capacity, including phases one to four and several bonded terminals. With such infrastructure, there should be greater contribution towards cargo distribution and support for mother ports,” he stated.

Onwuji further suggested that authorities should either restructure the command to improve efficiency or consider integrating its operations with other customs area commands.

He said: “If existing structures are not delivering the expected results, government should examine options for restructuring in order to improve cargo management, ease congestion and enhance operational efficiency at the ports.”

He also linked congestion at major Lagos ports to inadequate cargo distribution, arguing that improved movement of cargoes to underutilised facilities could reduce delays and costs borne by importers.
Drawing comparisons with neighbouring countries, Onwuji said efficient cargo dispersal beyond primary ports has helped reduce vessel waiting time and improve access for cargo clearance.

He identified reluctance to transfer cargoes, institutional complacency and prolonged inaction on operational concerns as factors he believed were affecting the command’s performance.

“No matter the level of technological deployment, ease of doing business cannot be fully achieved without efficient cargo distribution and reduction of congestion. There is a need to rethink the current approach to port operations,” he added.

Onwuji urged relevant authorities to investigate the concerns raised and implement reforms aimed at strengthening efficiency across Nigeria’s maritime sector.

Official responses from the relevant authorities were not immediately available at the time of filing this report, as calls and text message sent were not responded to.