Customs KLT Command, Oil & Gas Operators Meet to Boost Compliance, Streamline Vessel Operations

Customs KLT Command, Oil & Gas Operators Meet to Boost Compliance, Streamline Vessel Operations

The Nigeria Customs Service, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command, has intensified efforts to strengthen collaboration with key players in the oil and gas sector in a bid to enhance compliance, improve operational efficiency, and safeguard government revenue.

At a strategic stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller E. J. Edelduok, described the oil and gas industry as a vital pillar of national revenue and energy security. She stressed the importance of accurate documentation, transparent product accountability, and prompt Customs processes for seamless discharge, storage, and evacuation of petroleum products.

Comptroller Edelduok urged stakeholders to express their operational challenges, assuring them of the Command’s readiness to refine its procedures to promote ease of doing business while maintaining strict regulatory oversight.

Speaking during the engagement, the Officer-in-Charge of Boarding, Superintendent of Customs Emmanuel Okoka, reiterated that all foreign vessels visiting Nigeria for the first time must berth at a government jetty for mandatory Customs clearance before proceeding to private jetties. He said the procedure remains crucial for compliance verification, national security, and revenue protection.

Discussions at the meeting focused on vessel movement coordination, discharge timelines, and product transfer logistics. Stakeholders applauded the Command’s consultative approach and suggested issuing a formal circular to further clarify berthing protocols.

Comptroller Edelduok reaffirmed her commitment to transparency, accountability, and sustained collaboration to ensure smooth petroleum product operations across the KLT axis.

— VU Ogagbor, Chief Superintendent of Customs,
Public Relations Officer, KLT Command