Recent revelations at the ports have cast doubts on the continued relevance and infallibility of the celebrated Customs fast track system that was introduced to engender trade facilitation.
When it was introduced by the immediate past Customs Comptroller General; Dikko Inde Abdulahi, almost 200 companies were registered for the privileged fast- track concession platform.
At inception, the platform was created by Customs to encourage importers, exporters, licensed customs agents and other operators who are compliant with global best practice to facilitate trade.
The companies enjoy special concessions like express processing of PAAR, priority release of consignment, inspection at owner’s premises and exclusive membership of what it called the Compliance Ambassadors Club.
Majority of the companies that enjoyed the platform included pharmaceutical companies, automobile companies, local manufacturing companies, multi-nationals, among others.
The fast track window, otherwise called Blue Lane in Customs parlance, allows importers to carry their cargoes straightaway from the ports to their warehouses (without any form of delay) where customs processes such as examination and payment of duties are carried out instead of doing so in the ports. The system allows the importers to save port storage charges since port concessionaires charge an average of N4, 000 per container daily for storage charges.
It was confirmed that the idea of fast-track model was designed in conjunction with the Manufacturers Association of Nigerian (MAN). It was opened to members of MAN as well as companies that import more than 20 containers per month. Records showed that, at inception, these companies account for about 30 percent of the cargo volume in the nation’s seaports.
From Customs records, fast track helped to reduce delays and cargo clearance time at the ports drastically. Importers that are not on fast track also assisted because the volume of cargoes that enjoy the privileged exit through fast track reduced the pressure.
But, that is how far the good news about fast track goes, as reports have indicated that, Nigerian importers now abuse the privilege.
There was a discovery at Apapa port sometime this year where customs officers intercepted 26 containers of tyres and another 31 containers of rice falsely declared as yeast intercepted at Tincan Island Port.
Recently also, another 17 containers of raw materials stuffed with substances suspected to be cocaine were intercepted at the Tin Can Island port. The containers belong to a manufacturing company which enjoys fast track.
At one his media briefings in Lagos, the CG of Customs; Col Hameed Ali (rtd), confirmed that the seizures were as a result of abuse of fast track.
“The company which imported the tyres is enjoying the facility of fast track, which is given to the factory for quick processes to reduce cost and speed the time”, he told the media.
There are facts that the abuse of fast track is being perpetrated in collusion with some unscrupulous customs officers.
We recall that the CG of Customs had recently threatened to scrap the process of fast track, so what is the Customs waiting for?
We are told that more than 40,000 and sundry cargoes are cleared every day using the system and that about N160 million savings in storage charges per day is made, while another N1.12 billion for the average seven days cargo dwell time in the ports is saved for the importer through the fast track system. Cumulatively, in one year, about N409billion is saved by consignees who enjoy the fast track clearance system.
It is a fact that importers will lose if the system is stopped, but it is evident that, like everything else, Nigerian importers and their cohorts within and outside the system has turned an otherwise good intention into a drain pipe and an avenue for importing banned substances.
With the recent discovery at Tin Can port, the CG of Customs need not waiting any longer, he has enough reasons to act now and out an end to the fast track system. So it should be scrapped immediately.
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