Infrastructure deficit hinders 24-hour port operations - Customs

ABIOLA Seun |

The Nigerian Customs Service has blamed decadent port infrastructure as the bane of 24-hour cargo clearance at the port.

Making the disclosure in Lagos recently, the Area Controller of Tin Can Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Musa Baba Abdulahi said with the current parlous state of port infrastructure, there is little the Customs could do in terms of carrying out round the clock operations at the port.

Part of the Executive Order which was released in May last year by the then Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had mandated Customs, the Nigerian Port Authority, Service providers and other government agencies to commence 24 hours operation.

The order was aimed at eliminating the negative impact none clearance of goods on weekends and public holidays has on the cost of doing business.

Abdulahi said while the command had since commenced round- the- clock operation, security around the port environment, bad state of the road and lacks of power supply were some of the challenges hindering the full implementation of the 24 hours port operation and which are beyond customs.

“We operate 24 hours. Officers work on Saturdays and Sundays. But there is the issue of infrastructure too. That is why I emphasized that the whole thing about trade facilitation is not about customs procedure alone. For example, what has customs got to do with lighting of the port? Do you ask an agent to come to this place in the night and then there is no light?

“So some of these things are beyond customs but the impression is whatever has to do with the port, it is the customs. That is why I was emphasizing then that you really need to separate these things. Assuming a vessel arrive our waters, even before arrival, the shipping companies are supposed to send manifest. It is their responsibility not customs’. So if there is any delay, it is not caused by customs.

“Once the agent submits his declaration, it assesses automatically and the duty payable is there. The next thing is selectivity either for physical examination or for scanning. If it is for physical examination, it is scheduled for examination, all other agencies are supposed to be part of the examination and as soon as that is done, it is released.

“So a very small portion of the whole activity is what customs does. It is only amplified because we have to account for government revenue and you know people will not want to pay correctly,” he said.

Abdulahi said compliance level of agents to imports regulation is still very low at only 30 percent. He solicited support of the media to continue to enlighten the importing public on the need to be compliant to trade rules.