Apparently poised to ensure that imported cargoes are cleared out of the nation’s entry points, the Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS), is set to commence what it called a “Time Release Study of the Import Clearance” system in selected ports and border stations.
Justifying the exercise, which is being carried out in conjunction with World Customs Organization (WCO) and the USAID Nigerian Market Programme, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi, explained that the study is necessary to evaluate the impact of the on-going Customs modernization programme.
Acknowledging that despite the strides that have been recorded in Electronic Processing of declarations, the Customs boss admits that the Service still receives reports of delays and some bottlenecks in the system.
Shipping Position Weekly recalls that a similar Time Release Study was conducted in 2006, ahead of the deployment of ASYCUDA++ Processing System.
Stressing the importance of the current study, the Customs boss explained that “it therefore becomes necessary for us to take stock and measure the time required to release goods from time of arrival in Nigeria until their release from Customs”.
The up-coming study which takes-off in Apapa Port and Seme Border is specifically targeted at measuring the time taken between arrival and release of goods a swell as calculating the average time required for the release of goods at the various Customs clearance points.
Other objectives include: Calculation of average time taken for release of goods requiring the intervention of other Government Agencies and stakeholders, determination of where, in the procedures that delays exist, and the nature of these delays.
The study is also expected to recommend positive corrective measures that will improve the customs clearing system.
Our correspondent learnt that a total of 4,800 Single Good Declarations (SGDs) forms will be targeted for the study, while each of the declarations will be accompanied by questionnaires, which stakeholders involved in Customs Clearance will be expected to complete.
The CGC consequently assured all its stakeholders that the Time Release Study (TRS) is not designed to castigate any individual or agency involved in the clearance process.
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