Customs Inaugurates New Scanners, Eyes 24-Hour Goods Clearing

The Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko,has said that ports users would henceforth complete their business transactions in the nation’s ports within 24 hours.
Dikko made this known at Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers last week at the inauguration of the Gantry Scanner introduced by Societe Generele Surveillance (SGS) Nigeria limited.
SGS is the service provider contracted by the Federal Government to assist NCS in its effort at promoting trade facilitation.

The Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko,has said that ports users would henceforth complete their business transactions in the nation’s ports within 24 hours.
Dikko made this known at Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers last week at the inauguration of the Gantry Scanner introduced by Societe Generele Surveillance (SGS) Nigeria limited.
SGS is the service provider contracted by the Federal Government to assist NCS in its effort at promoting trade facilitation.
Represented by Mr David Agbaje, an Assistant Comptroller-General/ Zonal Coordinator, Zone C, Port Harcourt, Dikko said the equipment could scan about 34 trucks per hour as against 16 per hour by the fixed cargo scanners.
Dikko said the new scanners were more productive and cost-effective than the fixed cargo scanners.
He added that each had double tunnel that enabled it scan two trucks at the same time with equal image quality as the fixed scanner.
The comptroller-general said the facility was a boost to the 48-hour target for clearance of goods at the ports, noting that it would complement government’s efforts toward reducing the cost of doing business at the ports.
He said the facility could pick the smallest thing in the containers and detect under estimation of goods by the importers.
He commended SGS for introducing the scanners and training customs personnel on the use and handling of the equipment.
Mr Nigel Balchin, the Managing Director of SGS, said the mobile cargo scanners were delicate equipment susceptible to moisture.