Reps Lament Analogue Operations at Ports, Direct Committee to Probe Delay in Scanner Installation
*Invite CBN governor, finance minister, customs CG
By Our Reporter
Members of the House of Representatives on Thursday expressed worry over the continued analogue operations in Nigerian ports and directed its Committee on Customs and Excise, Finance and Banking to invite the relevant heads of agencies to explain why the e-Customs project was yet to take-off.
The Committee was particularly directed to invite the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Controller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.) as well as the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed on the issue.
The representatives had expressed concerns about 100 percent physical examination of goods, among others, at the ports as against use of scanners.
The Committee which has two weeks to report to the House was also asked to invite the the Managing Director of Adani Mega Systems Limited which is handling the e- customs project.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and Excise, Leke Abejide had moved the motion during plenary, explaining that it was to resolve the “debacle between CBN Technological Committee on CISS and Adani Mega Systems Ltd” which according to him has affected the ‘E-Customs Modernisation Project’.
According to the House Committee Chairman, the CBN Technical Committee on CISS reached an agreement with Adani Mega Systems Ltd to provide screening service infrastructure for all inbound and outbound cargo in the country.
The agreement reached in 2017 was to manage and supervise the project, in accordance with Sections 13(1),15(i), and 5 of Pre-Shipment Inspection of Export Act, and Pre-Shipment Inspect of Imports Act.
It was on the basis of a Build, Operate and Own Agreement between the CBN Technical Committee on CISS and Adani Mega Systems Limited as far as scanning is concerned.
The Chairman regretted that up till date, the Customs was still involved in physical examination at ports.
He said, “The House is also concerned that at the moment, Nigeria Customs Service still remains in the analogue era of conducting 100 per cent physical examination, which in itself is a major cause of congestion at our ports and greater loss of revenue to our dear country.”
He argued that there was the need to resolve all the issues at this point in time with insecurity and undetected arms entering the country.
About Post Author
