Connect with us

Customs

How terminal operators sabotage cargo scanning operations at Tin Can port

 

—As Customs intends to get mobile scanners to achieve total compliance 

The Eyewitness reporter

The Tin can Island command of the Nigeria Customs Service has accused the terminal operators of frustrating the cargo scanning process at the port.

The Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Olakunle Oloyede, made the veiled accusation last week during his presentation of the command”s performance for 2022.

Comptroller Oloyede alleged that the terminal operators are not willing to provide trucks that will take consignments scheduled for scanning to the scanning site, thus making it difficult for the command to achieve a 100 percent compliance level by importers and their agents.

”It is a big problem for the terminal operators to bring me trucks to take the consignments to the scanning site where the fixed scanners are located”, he lamented, saying ” but customs can”t do it alone, we have to do this work together with other stakeholders, there should be a synergy to get this job done as we all agreed to work together”

”Even, if I have 10 fixed scanners at the port and the terminal operators are not willing to provide trucks to move the consignments to the scanning site, that is a problem”, he stated.

But to circumvent this human obstacle to the scanning operations, Comptroller Oloyeded revealed that the command has decided to procure mobile scanners that will be placed on the quayside to scan containers dropped from the vessels before they are taken to the stacking areas.

”What we intend to do is to buy more mobile scanners and place them at the quayside.

”As your container is dropped on the truck that will take it to the stacking area, it would be made to go through the mobile scanner at the quayside. This will make compliance level compulsory.

”This is because the mobile machines will be at the quayside where they can be moved from one end of the quayside to the other.

”Even, if I have two mobile machines, they are enough for me. We just place them side by side on the vessel and your truck we move through them.

”And the scanning will not be more than five seconds per container. I can scan up to 400 containers a day, even more, without analysis.

”I will just scan for record purposes but when it is time when the owner of the cargo is ready for the clearance process, that is when the risk management tool will tell me which of those containers I have already scanned and kept their records are going for scanning. This is when we scan and analyse.

”This is what we intend to do very very soon”, the Customs chief declared.

On the issue of customs’ failure to apply value depreciation on old cars, Oloyede said that Customs does not have data for cars older than the approved age limit of 2014.

According to him, the system has been configured in such a way as not to recognise them, but rather than outrightly reject them, that is the reason they make them pay the value of the newer cars.

He observed that in other climes, such old cars are meant to be crushed and used as raw materials for other things but lamented that in Nigeria, people still bring in cars of 2005, 2007 into the country.

”There is no data for old vehicles. They are meant to be crushed. Our system is programmed to take cognisance of government policy on the age limit of cars. Any vehicles outside the approved age limit are not recognised..

He extricated Customs from the astronomical increase in the costs of vehicles in the market, attributing the high cost to the galloping exchange rates and the dynamism of the international market.

”When we talk of value for clearance, before, what was the exchange rate, and now, what is the exchange rate? This is what has affected the cost of cars in the market.

”And on value depreciation, you can’t depreciate vehicles that you are not supposed to bring into the country. But for vehicles within the age limit of 2014, the depreciation of value is there”

He also revealed that the system has been configured in such as way that there can’t be human intervention or interference.

 

 

 

 

 

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Customs

Vicious smugglers lynch young customs officer to death in Katsina , CGC mourns, orders investigation

The Eyewitness Reporter
A young Customs Officer, Customs Assistant II, Auwal Haruna, has been killed by suspected smugglers at the Gamji Makaho checkpoint in Dankama area of Katsina State on April 17th, 2024.
The officer, said to have been commissioned into the Nigeria Customs Service less than a year ago, was said to have fallen victim to the rampaging irate mob who was said to have overrun the Customs team which tried to stop a convoy of about 50 vehicles suspected to be smuggling illicit items outside the country.
According to the statement signed by Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, the deceased officer, who later died from the fatal injuries inflicted on him, has since been buried according to the Muslim rites.
However, the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the entire NCS fraternity have extended heartfelt condolences to the family of CA II Auwal Haruna.
Adeniyi also condemned the senseless act of violence that led to the untimely death of the young officers and assured to institute a comprehensive investigation into this tragic incident to ensure justice is served.
“The CGC underscores the perilous challenges officers face in their daily mission to safeguard the nation’s borders.
“Under his stewardship, he assures that the NCS stands firmly united with the fallen officer’s family during this period of profound grief.
“The NCS remains steadfast in its efforts to combat illegal activities such as smuggling, prioritising Nigeria’s border integrity while ensuring the safety of citizens and dedicated customs personnel” disclosed Adeniyi.
Continue Reading

Customs

Nigeria Customs, Benin Republic Customs collaborate to snuff lives out of Smugglers on Nigeria-Benin border 

The Eyewitness Reporter
Smugglers on the Nigeria- Benin Republic border may be in for a rough deal as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Customs administration of the Republic of Benin have indicated their readiness to work together to promote legitimate trade between the two West African neighboring countries.
The determination to promote legitimate trade and rid the Nigeria-Benin Republic border of illicit trade were reiterated during the visit of a powerful Nigeria Customs delegation led by Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs to his Benenour Counterpart, Mrs Adidjatou Hassan Zanouvi.
The primary focus of the meeting, as outlined by the CGC, was to deliberate on strategies aimed at amplifying trade activities between the two nations and ensuring the seamless implementation of recommendations previously discussed during their rendezvous in Cotonou.

Highlighting the significance of the collaboration, the CGC underscored, “We are cognizant of the established framework for cooperation between our respective customs administrations.

 This framework was established at a higher level by the authorities of the heads of State, President Patrice Talon of Benin and His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, both expressing a desire to work together. It is upon this foundation that the customs of both countries are united in their efforts.”

Welcoming the delegation with open arms, Mrs. Adidjatou Hassan Zanouvi, the Director-General of Benin Customs Administration, reiterated their steadfast commitment to executing the mutually agreed-upon measures, emphasising the importance of thorough monitoring to ensure effective implementation.

The collaborative endeavours between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Benin Republic Customs Administration, according to her, serve as a testament to their shared commitment to facilitating seamless trade operations and ensuring the efficient management of cross-border activities for the mutual benefit of both nations.

In the meantime, during the visit, the CGC seized the opportunity to inspect ongoing projects within the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command. Accompanied by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, the CGC meticulously assessed the progress of the projects and received assurances of diligent oversight from the responsible authorities.

Continue Reading

Customs

Zone A FOU, PTML, Ogun 1, Western Marine Commands get new Controllers as Oloyede, Peters get promotions in fresh Customs deployment exercise. 

Wale Adeniyi, CGC
The Eyewitness Reporter
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has approved the redeployment of Comptroller Saidu Abba Yusuf of Port Terminal Multi Services Limited(PTML) and Comptroller Kehinde Ejibunu of FOU Zone A in a routine redeployment exercise conducted by the service.
To replace the redeployed Area controllers of the affected commands are Comptroller Adegbite who takes over at PTML Command and Comptroller Oladeji who resumes as Controller in charge of FOU Zone A Ikeja.
Comptroller Ejibunu has been recalled to the Headquarters in the redeployment exercise that affected 13 Customs Comptrollers.
Similarly, Comptroller Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu formerly of Ogun 1 Command has been moved to  FOU Zone B, Kaduna while Comptroller O. Salifu of Western Marine Command was also redeployed to head FOU Zone D as   Comptroller MIC Igbadi now handles affairs at FOU Zone C.

Comptrollers Kolade of FOU Zone C, Comptroller Kehinde Ejibunu of FOU Zone A as well as Comptroller Wada have been moved to the Customs Headquarters.

Comptroller Ojo will take over from Comptroller Shuaibu at Ogun 1 Command while Comptroller Oladeji will resume as Controller in charge of FOU Zone A Ikeja.

Comptroller Adegbite will take over at PTML Command while Comptroller Babandede is expected to take over leadership at Onne Port Harcourt 1 Command as the Area Controller.

Meanwhile, a former Controller of Western Marine Command, ACG O. Peters was promoted to the rank of Deputy Comptroller General while the immediate past Controller of Tin Can Island Command, Comptroller A. Oloyede was elevated to the rank of Assistant Comptroller General.
Full details of the redeployment exercise remained sketchy at press time but Abdullahi Maiwada, the official spokesman of the Service, confirmed the exercise.
Continue Reading

Trending