Our Problem with Scanners, by Lagos Shippers
LAGOS PORT
*Customs agents need more education
By Francis Ugwoke
The President of Lagos Shippers Association, Evangelist Leo Ogamba has said that for importers and their customs agents to enjoy the benefits of scanning machines there is the urgent need for them to be educated on how to be packing only homogeneous trade goods in their containers.
Ogamba spoke following issues being faced at the Lagos ports over the deployment of scanning machines.
Stating that the re- introduction of cargo scanners by the government was commendable, he said the next step should be on education on how to perfect the system.
He explained that this was because the “current practice of packing hetrogenous cargo in one container which accounts for 80% of imported goods is fatal to the trade facilitation effort of government”.
He said, “The re- introduction of cargo scanners by FGN is commendable. However it is to be noted that for shippers to enjoy the benefits of scanning machines which include but limited to trade facilitation, boosting efficiency and security aimed at enhancement of Nigeria’s ranking in both Corruption Perception Index (CPI) and Logistics Performance Index, shippers that desire that their containers to be scanned need to be educated on how to be packing only homogeneous trade goods in their containers . The reason being that current practice of packing hetrogenous cargo in one container which accounts for 80% of imported goods is fatal to the trade facilitation effort of government”.
On physical examination of goods which some importers prefer, he said “the lack of space for stacking, examination, loading, manuvouring and holding bay in the terminals makes physical examination very cumbersome”.
He added, “The terminal operators know or ought to have known the area square meter of terminal concessioned to them in order to control cargo traffic or throughput into the terminal but this is not the current practice.
“The lack of space for terminal operations has additional cost to cargo owners unlike in other climes,the cargo owners are liable for the failure of terminal operators to deliver their containers for physical examination, loading or for scanning but in Nigeria, Shippers pay for any other service providers inefficiency”.
By Francis Ugwoke
The President of Lagos Shippers Association, Evangelist Leo Ogamba has said that for importers and their customs agents to enjoy the benefits of scanning machines there is the urgent need for them to be educated on how to be packing only homogeneous trade goods in their containers.
Ogamba spoke following issues being faced at the Lagos ports over the deployment of scanning machines.
Stating that the re- introduction of cargo scanners by the government was commendable, he said the next step should be on education on how to perfect the system.
He explained that this was because the “current practice of packing hetrogenous cargo in one container which accounts for 80% of imported goods is fatal to the trade facilitation effort of government”.
He said, “The re- introduction of cargo scanners by FGN is commendable. However it is to be noted that for shippers to enjoy the benefits of scanning machines which include but limited to trade facilitation, boosting efficiency and security aimed at enhancement of Nigeria’s ranking in both Corruption Perception Index (CPI) and Logistics Performance Index, shippers that desire that their containers to be scanned need to be educated on how to be packing only homogeneous trade goods in their containers . The reason being that current practice of packing hetrogenous cargo in one container which accounts for 80% of imported goods is fatal to the trade facilitation effort of government”.
On physical examination of goods which some importers prefer, he said “the lack of space for stacking, examination, loading, manuvouring and holding bay in the terminals makes physical examination very cumbersome”.
He added, “The terminal operators know or ought to have known the area square meter of terminal concessioned to them in order to control cargo traffic or throughput into the terminal but this is not the current practice.
“The lack of space for terminal operations has additional cost to cargo owners unlike in other climes,the cargo owners are liable for the failure of terminal operators to deliver their containers for physical examination, loading or for scanning but in Nigeria, Shippers pay for any other service providers inefficiency”.
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