E-Customs: Service set to deploy over 400 scanners in ports.

The scheme, Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) will see over 400 scanners deployed to various terminals across the Nigerian ports

The Zonal Coordinator, Zone A headquarters of the Service, Assistant Comptroller of Customs (ACG) Modupe Aremu disclosed this at the weekend when a group visited her office with complaints of multiple alerts on cargoes.

The ACG called on agents and their principals to always make genuine declarations in their documents to help the service achieve its set objectives.

She said :”Three scanners are already about to be installed across the ports in Nigeria.

“With E-Customs, there will be about 400 scanners for use across the ports in the country.

“Compliance is the key, if there is honest declaration, nobody can stop your cargoes along the roads.

“We cannot do it alone, we need you to cooperate with us”, she stated.

She admonished importers and freight agents to ensure genuine cargo declaration to avoid any form of alert.

She  reiterated that compliance on the part of the shippers and freight agents was key in the line of cargo clearance processes and procedures.

ACG Aremu also disclosed that the service is set to deploy some of the newly recruited 3,200 junior officers awaiting training to various customs units and  formations to fill the vacuum experienced in the service.

Earlier, President Advocacy for Maritime Development Association (AMDA) Segun Alabi has expressed worries over lack of scanners in port operations.

He said ” We also want to let you know that lack of scanning  machines is another challenge we are facing in the ports in Lagos.”

Speaking further , Alabi said “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.