Benefits of ICTN in Fight Against Insecurity, Revenue Leakages, Others, by Ex-NAGAFF President
By Francis Ugwoke
The former President of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Eugene Nweke, has said the planned reintroduction of International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) is timely to be part of the efforts of the federal government in tackling insecurity in the country.
Describing ICTN as a strong instrument for timely trade facilitation, Nweke said that ICTN was a vital tool in checking revenue leakages in the ports, adding that its reintroduction as planned by the federal government should not be delayed.
According to him, the present security situation in the country, especially the proliferation of arms and ammunition through smuggling calls for greater concern, explaining that this was why the federal government deems it necessary to reintroduce the implementation of the ICTN regime.
Speaking to SHIPPING DAY, he pointed out that the ICTN stands to assist in “mitigating possible threats to the supply chain , ranging from the
use of a ship, vehicle or port/port facility infrastructure as a weapon”.
Nweke added that the deployment of ICTN could put a stop to the
“use of vehicle to carry those intending to cause a security incident,
attacks on vehicles or vessels transiting on water, in the air or on land,
acts of hijacking and piracy attacks, using the supply chain to transport nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or to launch an attack, smuggling of weapons and drugs that help fund terrorism, illegal exports of licensed materials and technology, human trafficking and money laundering”.
He expressed optimism that the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) which is saddled with the national assignment will deliver considering the port economic regulator’s outstanding performance records.
He added “ the burden of integrity and performance rests on the Nigeria Shippers Council to show cause of improving both trade data collection, enhancement of trade facilitation, guarantee security and reduce business challenges in our ports. I have no doubt that it (NSC) will deliver in this all important obligation”
Noting that though some stakeholders were still skeptical over the workings of the ICTN in the present cargo handling and operational processes, the freight forwarder added that on the other hand many stakeholders have positively welcomed the reintroduction of the ICTN.
He told SHIPPING DAY that many stakeholders trust the effectiveness of the ICTN in boosting the security of the supply chain and other benefits.
Nweke observed that though some of the agencies in the sector have introduced different forms of cargo, ship and truck tracking systems, those measures merely serve internal specific purposes for the convenience of the organizations that cannot be compared with what ICTN can offer.
He argued, “Notably, all of these deployed tracking applications merely serve the specific administrative convenience of such organization, but not so in the realm of the ICTN which is structured to meet, render much security services and standards, far beyond mere tracking of cargo from point to point”.
“It is of greater concern when some stakeholders insinuate that the ICTN is a mere or not too different from the Electronic Data Interchange – EDI.
For clarification sake, an EDI is an established national Electronic Platform – a system where the trading community and relevant stakeholders can submit or make declaration electronically to Customs for processing through this system. Upon approval the declaration is satisfied and return back to the sender electronically. The Nigeria Customs Service PAAR is a typical example of an EDI, as such it is a misconception and misnomer to equate or liken an EDI to the ICTN”.
He argued further that the nation’s trade supply chain does not thrive in the isolation of the International trade security supply chain which is prone to three common threats of “insertion, removal and illegal use”.
It was these threats which according to him opened the window for a global efforts and concerns aimed at addressing such issues.
He told SHIPPING DAY, “Take note, before the sad incident of September Eleven 2003 in America, leading to a redouble efforts in this regards.
“It is important to reiterate that, International crime and terrorism is of a greater concern to both government and the business community, especially so, where the supply chain is vulnerable to either direct target for crime and terrorism or a means to deliver weapon”.
In view of this development, International security programmes or measures such as the ICTN were developed and adopted to complement and ensure a secured chain.
The whole essence is to evolve an intervention Initiative at export location or port of origin all through the transits point, to the import location or port of destination”.
The former President of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Eugene Nweke, has said the planned reintroduction of International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) is timely to be part of the efforts of the federal government in tackling insecurity in the country.
Describing ICTN as a strong instrument for timely trade facilitation, Nweke said that ICTN was a vital tool in checking revenue leakages in the ports, adding that its reintroduction as planned by the federal government should not be delayed.
According to him, the present security situation in the country, especially the proliferation of arms and ammunition through smuggling calls for greater concern, explaining that this was why the federal government deems it necessary to reintroduce the implementation of the ICTN regime.
Speaking to SHIPPING DAY, he pointed out that the ICTN stands to assist in “mitigating possible threats to the supply chain , ranging from the
use of a ship, vehicle or port/port facility infrastructure as a weapon”.
Nweke added that the deployment of ICTN could put a stop to the
“use of vehicle to carry those intending to cause a security incident,
attacks on vehicles or vessels transiting on water, in the air or on land,
acts of hijacking and piracy attacks, using the supply chain to transport nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or to launch an attack, smuggling of weapons and drugs that help fund terrorism, illegal exports of licensed materials and technology, human trafficking and money laundering”.
He expressed optimism that the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) which is saddled with the national assignment will deliver considering the port economic regulator’s outstanding performance records.
He added “ the burden of integrity and performance rests on the Nigeria Shippers Council to show cause of improving both trade data collection, enhancement of trade facilitation, guarantee security and reduce business challenges in our ports. I have no doubt that it (NSC) will deliver in this all important obligation”
Noting that though some stakeholders were still skeptical over the workings of the ICTN in the present cargo handling and operational processes, the freight forwarder added that on the other hand many stakeholders have positively welcomed the reintroduction of the ICTN.
He told SHIPPING DAY that many stakeholders trust the effectiveness of the ICTN in boosting the security of the supply chain and other benefits.
Nweke observed that though some of the agencies in the sector have introduced different forms of cargo, ship and truck tracking systems, those measures merely serve internal specific purposes for the convenience of the organizations that cannot be compared with what ICTN can offer.
He argued, “Notably, all of these deployed tracking applications merely serve the specific administrative convenience of such organization, but not so in the realm of the ICTN which is structured to meet, render much security services and standards, far beyond mere tracking of cargo from point to point”.
“It is of greater concern when some stakeholders insinuate that the ICTN is a mere or not too different from the Electronic Data Interchange – EDI.
For clarification sake, an EDI is an established national Electronic Platform – a system where the trading community and relevant stakeholders can submit or make declaration electronically to Customs for processing through this system. Upon approval the declaration is satisfied and return back to the sender electronically. The Nigeria Customs Service PAAR is a typical example of an EDI, as such it is a misconception and misnomer to equate or liken an EDI to the ICTN”.
He argued further that the nation’s trade supply chain does not thrive in the isolation of the International trade security supply chain which is prone to three common threats of “insertion, removal and illegal use”.
It was these threats which according to him opened the window for a global efforts and concerns aimed at addressing such issues.
He told SHIPPING DAY, “Take note, before the sad incident of September Eleven 2003 in America, leading to a redouble efforts in this regards.
“It is important to reiterate that, International crime and terrorism is of a greater concern to both government and the business community, especially so, where the supply chain is vulnerable to either direct target for crime and terrorism or a means to deliver weapon”.
In view of this development, International security programmes or measures such as the ICTN were developed and adopted to complement and ensure a secured chain.
The whole essence is to evolve an intervention Initiative at export location or port of origin all through the transits point, to the import location or port of destination”.
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