The much-expected fixed scanners belonging to Cotecna Destination Inspection Services Limited; one of Nigeria’s destination inspection service providers will be ready by December, 2009
The development exited visiting members of the House of Representatives committee on Customs and Excise which commended the company over the progress it has made so far in the construction of the fixed scanners which are at Apapa Port and Ashaye area of Tin Can Island Port
Cotecna is a service provider under Nigeria’s Destination Inspection (DI) scheme has a seven-year Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) contract with the Federal Government, which entails the Computer Risk Management System (CRMS).
Under the contract, which commenced in 2006 following the take – off of the Destination Inspection Scheme the company is to facilitate trade, install both mobile and fixed scanners and also build capacity, which entails the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) who are expected to take-over at the expiration of the contract.
Mr Yakubu Dogara, chairman of the committee, who spoke after the inspection of Cotecna facilities said that Cotecna had done very well, as it has kept faith with terms of the contract, especially in terms of the provision of both mobile and fixed scanners at the nation’s major seaports under it control as stated in the contract.
The chairman, who disclosed that the committee was not doing any oversight functions in inspecting the scanners, as they are on a fact finding mission to find out the extent of work, also observed that the fixed scanners, which are of 9.0 MEV is far higher than the mobile scanners and are of higher precision than what the committee saw at the Rotterdam Port when it visited.
He however charged the company not to rest on it oars in ensuring the success of the DI scheme, noting that with the dwindling fortunes of the oil and gas industry world wide due to the global economic crisis, the government would rely so much from import duty revenue and so would not accept any excuses.
The chairman also assured that the government on its part would do everything possible to ensure efficient and timely delivery of consignments at the nation’s seaports, especially by providing the enabling environment for the port industry to thrive.
Cotecna’s managing director, Mr. Tayo Rabiu, who conducted the committee round the projects had earlier explained that the project would have been completed by now, but for the delay in the provision of a piece of land for the project, adding that the fixed scanners would be completed 18 months after the take-off of the contract.
The managing director, who assured that the contract is of international standards, noted that he is a Nigerian and that if in future it is discovered that the project is substandard, people would ask him questions, which he must not run away from the country being his one and only him.
On the concern of the committee over level of the training of the NCS officers and some other operators of the fixed scanners, especially given that the project would be completed in December, the managing director assured that was being taken care of, arguing that it is not in the interest of the company of build such facilities and not adequately train people to handle them. He told the committee that the company is providing cloak room for the officers and men of the service, who would eventually take over, as many of them would want to change their uniforms and mufti as the close of work.
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