NICIS 2 has not been effective - NAGAFF boss.

Tayo Oladipupo |

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has said that the introduction of Nigeria Customs Information System (NICIS) 2 by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has shown no departure from what obtained before its introduction.

National President of the association, Chief Increase Uche told our reporter in his office on Wednesday that he believed that the Customs Virtual information system is still at the pilot stage.

The President stated further that the single window trade platform had led to more interception of cargoes on the roads by the several task forces of the Service.

Uche stated that the impact of NICIS 2 is yet to be felt adding that ASSYCYDA 2.7 and 3.0 seemed better than the present platform.

His words, “The only way we can increase facilitation of trade is to avoid physical examination. You can’t be subjecting all the cargoes to physical examination, you have to provide scanners.

“It is long overdue. Since 2012, the thing has remained the same. Customs could not continue from where the Service providers ended.

“Even the new system that customs introduced from NICIS 1 to NICIS 2, it has not really worked as we expected. Whether they are still doing the pilot stage.

“But if indeed they have started full implementation of NICIS 2, we need to see change, we need to see it reflect in the pattern in which things are done and businesses are conducted in the port.

“As at the last time, I was still telling them that we are yet to see the impact of NICIS 2 because what we saw during ASSYCUDA 2.7 and 3.0 seemed to be better than what we are seeing today.

“In NICIS 2, I have not seen a clear departure from what we have been seeing before.

“Formally, when we had the traders zone and customs zone, some of these non compliance were almost reducing.

“All of a sudden, the NICIS 2 came up and the trader zone was terminated and every other thing was jam packed and there was no more clear cut procedure.

“Immediately you do your declaration, you wouldn’t know where you are going until you bring the container out. Everything you see in terms of interruptions from intelligence unit, investigative unit and others up to nine of them. It has never been like this before.

“What we are advising is that stakeholders input has to be sought before introducing these current regimes,” he said.