Freight Forwarders Commend FEC over Approval for Scanners, Patrol Boats for Customs
Finance Minister
*Seek involvement in process to avoid repeat installation of obsolete scanners
Freight forwarders have commended the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for its decision to acquire three scanners and five patrol boats for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The scanners which will be used in Lagos and Eastern ports, including the patrol boats will cost at about N10billion.
In a statement the Head of Policed and Research Group of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Dr. Eugene Nweke, said the decision will add strategic value for trade facilitation in the ports.
Nweke added that freight forwarders were highly encouraged with the FEC resolution that the equipments when procured will be manned and operated by the Nigeria Customs Service and not any consultant or agent.
But he said the failure to mention Apapa seaport as one of the
beneficiary ports for the installation of the new designed scanners was worrisome.
In the approval, Tin Can Island port in Lagos, Onne and Port Harcourt ports were mentioned as beneficiaries of the scanners.
Nweke who was the former President of NAGAFF said the observation “becomes inevitable because Apapa Port serves as a major revenue generating point, larger and strategic container ports in the sub region, especially so in terms of cargo traffic volume and industrial activities concerns”.
He added, “The non-assigning of a scanner or mention of it seems to leave a window unshut, thereby encouraging and furthering the scrambling and partitioning antics of the lobbyists group (aka opportunists) and their insider promoters.
“Though the detailing of the contract terms are not made public, It has become necessary to also implore the HMOF to take adequate care to guide against the repetition of the ugly experience associates with the past contract awards where similar contracts was technically and conspiratorially skewed against the Nation to serve the political interests of some politicians, resultantly apart from the effects of over invoiced contract figures noted to have been imbedded with some vested financial interest of some political class. Notably, the contractors with their impunity supplied and installed refurbished scanners in those located ports where they eventually executed the contract”.
He recalled the arrangement for the 2003 arrangement for supply and installation of scanners at 14 port locations but described it as a rip-off as this was not the case.
He added that what was even regrettable was that stakeholders observed that the installation of the equipment in that arrangement was refurbished scanners in few locations.
Nweke also recalled that the scanners which were later taken over by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for the direct drive of Destination Inspection were observed as obsolete and not working.
He said, “Upon taking over the X-ray Scan Operations, the then Management team the Nigeria Customs noted that all the installed scanning machines were not only reported to work below expectations but obsolete and as such engaged the services of scanning machine auditor. The report of the auditor revealed that about 90% of the installed scanning machines were refurbished outside the country and was supplied and installed as new scanners in the approved location”.
To avoid a repeat of such experience, he appealed to the federal government to allow freight forwarders to be involved in this process.
He particularly said Nigerian freight forwarders will appreciate “if a copy of the certified contract award document be made Public in line with the change mantra and transparency policy thrust of the present Government”
He added, “For emphasis we reference the above in order to underline our ultimate concerns on National Interests (moral, security, job creation, revenue, etc) consideration.
“Due precaution in relation to contract technicalities, prompt monitoring and supervision of the equipments supply and installation process, and the Maintenance.
“The Nigeria Freight Forwarders shall on behalf of Nigerians request to be involved in this process and will appreciate if a copy of the certified contract award document be made Public in line with the change mantra and transparency policy thrust of the present Government
“Once, again WE say thank you for these laudable gestures aimed to nib on board the ceaseless operational difficulties associated with the non functional scanners in our present port system.
As we also trust that, the effective supervision and implementation of these laudable gestures will end an era of rip off on the part of the Nigerian Shippers”.
Freight forwarders have commended the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for its decision to acquire three scanners and five patrol boats for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The scanners which will be used in Lagos and Eastern ports, including the patrol boats will cost at about N10billion.
In a statement the Head of Policed and Research Group of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Dr. Eugene Nweke, said the decision will add strategic value for trade facilitation in the ports.
Nweke added that freight forwarders were highly encouraged with the FEC resolution that the equipments when procured will be manned and operated by the Nigeria Customs Service and not any consultant or agent.
But he said the failure to mention Apapa seaport as one of the
beneficiary ports for the installation of the new designed scanners was worrisome.
In the approval, Tin Can Island port in Lagos, Onne and Port Harcourt ports were mentioned as beneficiaries of the scanners.
Nweke who was the former President of NAGAFF said the observation “becomes inevitable because Apapa Port serves as a major revenue generating point, larger and strategic container ports in the sub region, especially so in terms of cargo traffic volume and industrial activities concerns”.
He added, “The non-assigning of a scanner or mention of it seems to leave a window unshut, thereby encouraging and furthering the scrambling and partitioning antics of the lobbyists group (aka opportunists) and their insider promoters.
“Though the detailing of the contract terms are not made public, It has become necessary to also implore the HMOF to take adequate care to guide against the repetition of the ugly experience associates with the past contract awards where similar contracts was technically and conspiratorially skewed against the Nation to serve the political interests of some politicians, resultantly apart from the effects of over invoiced contract figures noted to have been imbedded with some vested financial interest of some political class. Notably, the contractors with their impunity supplied and installed refurbished scanners in those located ports where they eventually executed the contract”.
He recalled the arrangement for the 2003 arrangement for supply and installation of scanners at 14 port locations but described it as a rip-off as this was not the case.
He added that what was even regrettable was that stakeholders observed that the installation of the equipment in that arrangement was refurbished scanners in few locations.
Nweke also recalled that the scanners which were later taken over by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for the direct drive of Destination Inspection were observed as obsolete and not working.
He said, “Upon taking over the X-ray Scan Operations, the then Management team the Nigeria Customs noted that all the installed scanning machines were not only reported to work below expectations but obsolete and as such engaged the services of scanning machine auditor. The report of the auditor revealed that about 90% of the installed scanning machines were refurbished outside the country and was supplied and installed as new scanners in the approved location”.
To avoid a repeat of such experience, he appealed to the federal government to allow freight forwarders to be involved in this process.
He particularly said Nigerian freight forwarders will appreciate “if a copy of the certified contract award document be made Public in line with the change mantra and transparency policy thrust of the present Government”
He added, “For emphasis we reference the above in order to underline our ultimate concerns on National Interests (moral, security, job creation, revenue, etc) consideration.
“Due precaution in relation to contract technicalities, prompt monitoring and supervision of the equipments supply and installation process, and the Maintenance.
“The Nigeria Freight Forwarders shall on behalf of Nigerians request to be involved in this process and will appreciate if a copy of the certified contract award document be made Public in line with the change mantra and transparency policy thrust of the present Government
“Once, again WE say thank you for these laudable gestures aimed to nib on board the ceaseless operational difficulties associated with the non functional scanners in our present port system.
As we also trust that, the effective supervision and implementation of these laudable gestures will end an era of rip off on the part of the Nigerian Shippers”.
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