Customs Agents Commend Shippers’ Council on Push for Digitalisation of Ports Operations
By Francis UgwokeThe Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has been applauded for the efforts to enthrone an efficient trade facilitation in Nigeria through push for automation of ports operations.
The Chairman, Tin Can Island Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr Mohammed Mojeed, said the Council has been able to get both the shipping service providers and consumers to have an interface through digitalisation.
Mojeed who spoke to newsmen weekend said his members were pleased about the efforts of the ports economic regulator considering the positive impact on achieving an efficient service delivery at the ports.
He said that since the Council became the lead agency on the Nigerian Ports Process Manual (NPPM) which is all about enforcing ease of doing business at the ports by the federal government, there has been a lot of awareness creation by the Council on the need for digitalisation among customs agents.
He commended shipping companies and other service providers for their increasing level of digitalisation.
He said that many shipping companies have increased their level of online services for the process of clearing goods at the ports.
According to him, those who had issues or were slow in digitalisation have now improved, explaining that this was through the efforts of the NSC.
Mojeed said his members have also keyed into the digitalisation agenda, saying a lot of training is being organised for ANLCA members.
He disclosed that the national executive of ANLCA apart from training members had advised that they bring their secretaries or representatives for online training for the purpose of everyone being part of ports automation.
He also disclosed that members had earlier been offered training by the ports economic regulator as part of the moves to ensure an efficient ports services.
The ANLCA Chairman had during the chat said that his association has been battling the issue of multiple alerts at the ports as among the reasons why there is delay in clearing of goods at the port.
He said the issues of manual examination and multiple alerts combine to cause delays and lead to demurrage at the ports, adding that those who benefit over this were the terminal operators.
He described as painful the issue of multiple alerts, adding that most times it is discovered to be frivolous and just to extort customs agents.
He also said it had been discovered that such alerts were initiated by some younger customs officers mainly to extort importers and their customs agents.
He disclosed that his association had met with the Tin Can Island Customs Controller, Mr MBA Musa, over the issue of multiple alerts, who had to intervene about three months ago and told officers that there should be genuine reasons before any alert is issued on any consignment.
He said since then the issue of multiple alerts has drastically reduced and everything becoming better at the port.
He also condemned the issue of Task Forces staying close to the ports gates as against 40 kilometer away as provided by the Customs and Excise law.
He said there were between four to five Task Forces by the Customs who still have to stop movement of containers for a fresh check after such goods had been released by Customs officers in the ports.
He described this as simply for the purpose of corruption, as customs agents are compelled to settle those at the checkpoints before the goods could be allowed to move.
Mojeed said it was following the complaints by his association that forced the Controller to intervene, adding that there is a Monitoring Team by the Controller to checkmate all the officers in respect of the clearing process.
He said when there is any infraction, members of the Monitoring Team will inform the controller for intervention.
According to him, contrary to allegation, the CAC’s Task Force is not for extortion but for monitoring activities at the ports.
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