The Nigeria Customs Service has concluded plans to deploy three scanners to the ports in Lagos State as part of efforts to tackle the congestions.
The Service Zonal Coordinator of Zone A Headquarters, Assistant Comptroller General, Modupe Aremu stated that management would soon switch over to a new electronic scheme that would further aid customs operations.
Mrs Aremu stressed this over the weekend when a group of customs licensed agents paid a working visited to her office in Lagos, South-west Nigeria, with complaints of multiple alerts, lack of scanning equipment and shortage of personnel on cargoes escort.
She said the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) would see over 400 scanners deployed to various terminals across the nation’s ports.
The Assistant Comptroller General called on agents and their principals to always ensure genuine declarations on their documents to help the service achieve its set objectives.
According to her, “Three scanners are already about to be installed across the ports in Lagos. With E-Customs, there will be about 400 scanners for use across the ports in the country.”
She maintained that compliance on the part of the shippers and freight agents was key in line with cargo clearance processes and procedures.
“Compliance is the key, if there is an honest declaration, nobody can stop your cargoes along the roads.
“We cannot do it alone, we need you to cooperate with us. importers and freight agents should ensure genuine cargo declaration to avoid any form of alert, “ she added.
The Customs boss noted that the service is set to deploy some of the newly recruited 3,000 junior officers to various customs units and formations in filling the existing shortage of personnel.
Earlier, President Advocacy for Maritime Development Association (AMDA) Segun Alabi expressed worries over the lack of scanners in port operations.
According to him, “We want to let you know that lack of scanning machines is another challenge we are facing in the ports in Lagos.
“Especially at APM. Terminals Apapa, we need scanners to facilitate trade. There is a lot of congestion in that terminal due to lack of scanners.
“We are appealing for management of the service to deploy scanners to these terminals for faster clearance of cargoes.”
