Automobile Manufacturers and Importers Association of Nnewi, Anambra, has urged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to urgently implement its newly introduced e-clearing system in container terminals now at pilot stage.
The Chairman of the association, Mr Okeke Chukwuma, told reporters in Nnewi, that the electronic platforms provided were commendable developments.
He, however, said that as a developing country, Nigeria lacked the required consistent power supply and internet service to make it work effectively.
Automobile Manufacturers and Importers Association of Nnewi, Anambra, has urged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to urgently implement its newly introduced e-clearing system in container terminals now at pilot stage.
The Chairman of the association, Mr Okeke Chukwuma, told reporters in Nnewi, that the electronic platforms provided were commendable developments.
He, however, said that as a developing country, Nigeria lacked the required consistent power supply and internet service to make it work effectively.
Chukwuma advised that the process could start from one terminal to another until it got to a stage where it could be introduced to all the terminals in Nigerian ports.
He urged the customs to handle the process with such tact that businessman would not bear the brunt by way of paying excess bank charges and demurrages, knowing that bank charges are very high in Nigeria.
“Everything is working against the businessman in Nigeria by way of poor system.
“So we are saying that we are not against e-payment or trade hub or PAAR; but we are saying that in as much as the (electronic clearing) system is there, it should translate to quick delivery of our containers.
“We have been paying so much demurrage since December till now and businessmen are not happy.
“So in as much as government or customs wants to introduce whatever system to comply with WTO or to meet-up with world standard, it has to understand that we are still a developing nation.
“By the time you bring the system that is working in developed countries such as Britain and Switzerland to a developing nation like Nigeria, it may experience hitches.“
The customs recently sensitised its stakeholders about the new customs e-clearing guidelines based on the Nigeria Trade Hub and Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) electronic porter as well as the customs helpdesk hotlines.
According to Chukwuma, when the delay occurs due to systemic and infrastructure failure, the businessman (importer) bears the brunt in terms of payment for demurrages and high bank charges.
Apart from the new electronic system, which is still contentious, the importers are complaining of incessant checks on the highways by same customs officials, who had earlier cleared their dutiable containers and goods at the terminals.
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