Group petitions Presidency over abandoned scanners at seaports, border posts.

Abiola Seun

The National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over the decision to abandon repair of the cargo scanners at nation’s seaports.

The petition signed by NCMDLCA president, Lucky Amewiro, and a copy made available to journalists, disclosed that three main level of improvement for the five scanning equipments were given to government, which are upgrading, updating and enhancement.

The petition said Smith Detection Consultants recommended updating which was the vital refurbishments necessary to return the system to “as delivered” state.

Amewiro gave the breakdown of the estimated cost for the refurbishments as follows: the one in Apapa port (Euro- E76,152,00), mobile scanners at Idiroko Border (Euro- E200,052,00), fixed scanners at Seme Border (Euro- E326,518.00), mobile scanners in Warri port (Euro- E663,645.00) and mobile scanners at Apapa port (Euro- E407,123.00).

According to the petition, Smith Detection, the manufacturers of the scanners, were mandated to re-evaluate the scanners to know the present state, look into the main cause of the collapse and if possible work out a Public Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement to maintain them.

The petitioner however called on the Federal government not to waste scare resources in the acquisition of new scanners but to repair the old ones.

They also advised that the government should conduct a fresh audit of the scanners with a view to determining their condition.

It read: “The Council called for the re-evaluation of the scanners to know the present state and update the scanners as recommended by Smith Detection, the Manufacturers.

“Look into the main cause of the collapsed scanners and if possible work out a Public Private Partnership arrangement to maintain the scanners.

”Alternatively, the Federal government should release part of the one per cent FOB for maintenance and repairs of the scanners.”