It is becoming very apparent that the nation’s seaports are set to (once again) experience congestion. But unlike in the past when congestion was either as a result of inadequate cargo handling equipment or insufficient pilotage services by the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA), the present situation is coming as a fall out of a decision by the new Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Hamman Bello Ahmed.
The fact of the matter is that the terminals are getting congested as importers are running away form taking delivery of their consignments. They are blaming the development on the overbearing presence of a special team of customs officials who were posted to Lagos ports on the orders of the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Hamman Bello Ahmed.
They came with specific instruction: to shorten the process of cargo clearance in the ports, and by so doing, move the Customs closer to the much-desired 48 hours target for customs release of all imported cargoes.
Scornfully called ‘the wise men from Abuja’ by licensed customs agents, the customs officers are said to be positioned at the strategic Customs Processing Centre (CPC) at the various ports from where they ensure that all consignments that are being cleared meet statutory regulations.
There are about 82 of them and they have specific instructions- to ensure that all ‘entries’ or single good declaration (SGD) form that come into the CPC are vetted thoroughly by the wise men.
On the surface, that is the story, but beyond that is the allegation that rather than quicken the process, the ‘wise men’ have been undermining resident officers and taking instructions form and being too loyal to their boss in Abuja.
Our concern is not about the effect of this on the command structure in the Nigeria Customs Service, but, the effect of the activities of the Abuja Customs men on cargo clearance.
From what he said at the recent meeting which he held with members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, it is very obvious that the involvement of his team from Abuja has already scared some importers and licensed customs agents away.
Certainly, the Customs boss will be the happiest man on earth if he could achieve 48- hour cargo clearance. He has enhanced policies such as fast track, direct traders input (DTI) as well as e-payment; all in a bid to inch towards the ideal called 48 hour.
We have however observed that the way things are going; we may end up having another era of congestion staring us in the face. This possibility has also been confirmed by the Customs boss at the meeting with manufacturers.
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If the customs boss is desirous of achieving faster cargo clearance, he has to have a rethink about the wise men from Abuja. The way out is to ask them to stop being clog in the wheel of progress. The can not make Customs to achieve cargo clearance within 48 hours.
Customs should facilitate trade and engender a seamless procedure and interface between all operators. Anything outside these will be counter productive to the economy of the nation.
Rather than turn to the almost 84 officers from Abuja for enhancement of the desired objectives, the Nigeria Customs Service should harmonize its procedure with that of both Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
If new Customs procedure makes 48- hour a possibility, it will amount to nothing if the process that are used by both SON and NAFDAC are not in tandem with that of Customs, we may not achieve anything.
We are of the opinion that both NAFDAC and SON should adopt Customs list of fast track beneficiary companies.
We take note of and align ourselves with advice of the director general, DR Jide Mike who urged the Customs to publicize details of its fast track system and beneficiaries and also carry the area controllers along in the implementation.
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