Customs Set To Sensitize Freight Forwarders On PAAR

The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed its commitment to sensitising its officers and freight forwarders on the Pre Assessment Arrival Report (PAAR) and the new Single Window platform that will serve as replacements for destination inspection scheme expected to be taken over by the Customs in December.

Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Tin Can Island Command of the Customs; Comptroller Zakari Jubrin dropped the hint yesterday when members of the caretaker committee of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Tin Can port chapter paid him a courtesy visit in Lagos.

Talking specifically about the PAAR training request, the controller stated that, “concerning the PAAR and the Single Window platform about which freight forwarders have requested to be educated, I think we have that programme in place ".

"Some people are coming from headquarters (of Customs) any moment from now and after giving lectures to our officers ,they will now extent it to the freight forwarders, thus that one is already in place, "Jubrin disclosed.

He also said that breakdown of scanners at the cargo examination site are responsible for the physically examination that containers are being subjected to, even as he added that there has been no complaint at the terminals as regards physical examination of containers.

The area controller urged members of NAGAFF to report any issue of breakdown of scanners to him, adding that the problem at Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) has to do with lack of space that will take care of the cargoes received at the terminal.

"Problem faced at the terminal at TICT has to do with the fact that they don't have enough trucks to move the containers to the site of scanning and we have identified all these problems and we have briefed the SSA on Maritime to the President on that", he added.

Jubrin noted that he has directed the TICT to send containers to off-dock facilities, but lamented that despite the directive, the problem still persists.

He assured that the observation made by the visiting members of NAGAFF will serve as a feedback to the command, even as he urged member of the chapter to give the command feedback on issues on the port operations.

Earlier in his remark, the Chairman Caretaker Committee of the Tin Can Island chapter of NAGAFF; Chief Azubuike Ekweozor called on the command to sensitize freight forwarders and agents on the introduction of PAAR, the Single Window platform and the Nigeria Trade Hub that will serve as a replacement of destination inspection.

Ekweozor urged the CAC to organise a workshop or visit the NAGAFF headquarters to speak about the imminent take-over of destination inspection scheme by Customs.

He explained that, " in view of the envisaged increase in cargo throughput usually experienced during the last quarter of the year, the Honourable Minister of Transport set up a committee with membership drawn from stakeholders in the maritime industry to proffer solutions to the problems in view of the likely effect on the economy and cost of doing business in the ports"