Findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) auctioned a total of 1,156 vehicles and 36 other items through its e-auction portal over the past 11 months, with over 8,233 applicants vying for the various goods.
While the system has been praised for its transparency and enhanced access, stakeholders, including clearing agents, believe that further improvements are needed to improve the overall user-experience.
Recall that the NCS e-auction portal was introduced to bring transparency to the auction process, eliminating physical barriers and reducing corruption that had previously marred the process.
The CG of Customs; Adewale Adeniyi had at the launch of the e-auction portal in January, said with the online platform, bidders can now participate from any location in Nigeria, fostering greater inclusivity and broader participation in the sale of seized and condemned goods.
Checks by our correspondent revealed that since its inception, the portal has become central to the Custom’s efforts to boost revenue and ensure that auction processes adhere strictly to standard procedures.
A significant advantage of the e-auction platform is the simplified process for purchasing seized items, allowing applicants to register and place bids without needing to visit physical locations. This digital shift has also helped address concerns about favoritism and limited access to information, which were common complaints during the era of manual auctions.
Despite these gains, some stakeholders, especially clearing agents, have called for further refinements to the e-auction portal to address ongoing challenges. One of the critical issues highlighted is the need for a better user-experience on the platform, especially during peak bidding periods, when demand is high.
Ifeanyi Nwankwo, a clearing agent and member of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) commended the NCS for the initiative, but noted that challenges remain.
“The e-auction portal has definitely improved access and transparency. Now, you don’t have to be physically present to participate in the auction, and that’s a positive change. However, there are still areas where we face difficulties. The portal sometimes experiences glitches, especially when many people try to access it simultaneously. It’s a great idea, but it can be better.”
“The NCS has made a good start, and we hope they continue to listen to our feedback,” added Ifeanyi Nwankwo. “If the necessary adjustments are made, I believe the e-auction portal can become one of the most efficient means of auctioning seized goods in Nigeria”, he said.
Another clearing agent, Samuel Adeyemi also acknowledged the benefits of the system, but emphasized the need for improvement. “We appreciate the efforts of Customs to digitize the auction process. It has helped eliminate some of the challenges we faced in the past. But the reality is that the platform is not yet seamless. Sometimes, you have to make multiple attempts before your bid is accepted, due to system downtimes. The Customs should consider further optimizing the system to handle larger number of users at the same time.”
Reacting to the concerns raised, Abdullahi Maiwada, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Customs Service, explained that the e-auction system is still evolving, and the Service is working diligently to address any shortcomings.
He emphasized that the challenges faced are not unexpected, given that it is a relatively new digital initiative for the agency. “We don’t expect to deploy a new system and you want it to be seamless. It’s a gradual process. We are working on it, and there is always room for improvement,” he stated.
“So, whenever we have some issues, we look at it and we improve on it. Generally, we can say the whole process is successful, but there is much room for improvement. We can make it better.”
He further highlighted that efforts are ongoing to enhance the platform’s stability and ensure that technical issues are addressed promptly to allow for smoother operations.
The statistics from the e-auction portal over the last 11 months indicate that the NCS has been able to generate significant interest in the online bidding process. With 1,156 vehicles and 36 other items successfully auctioned, the e-auction system has drawn the attention of a wide range of applicants, including private individuals and business owners seeking to acquire seized assets at competitive prices.
However, some industry analysts believe that the number of successful auctions could be higher with more user-friendly interface improvements and enhanced system capabilities. They argue that a smoother user-experience would encourage greater participation and ultimately translate to increased revenue for the government.
One analyst, Dr. Olajide Oyekanmi, noted that “the e-auction portal has shown its potential, but there’s more that can be done to ensure that the system reaches its peak in efficiency. A more intuitive interface, coupled with better customer support for bidders, could go a long way in addressing the concerns raised by users. If the NCS can address these issues, we can expect a higher turnout in future auctions”, he posited.
