Freight forwarders have commended the Nigeria Customs Service over the successes recorded so far in the clearance of goods from the ports, especially with the introduction of the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR).
A cross section of freight forwarders who spoke yesterday at a ceremony to mark the 3rd year anniversary of Port Gist on TV, conferment of awards and unveiling of a new magazine, expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the the Customs PAAR.
Freight forwarders have commended the Nigeria Customs Service over the successes recorded so far in the clearance of goods from the ports, especially with the introduction of the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR).
A cross section of freight forwarders who spoke yesterday at a ceremony to mark the 3rd year anniversary of Port Gist on TV, conferment of awards and unveiling of a new magazine, expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the the Customs PAAR.
Leading the pack, the President of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); Prince Olayiwola Shittu called on stakeholders to support PAAR, adding that it has fared well, even though it had some challenges at the initial stage.
He stated that PAAR has become a reality in freight forwarding practice, adding that the agents still needed to be educated about the scheme.
Shittu noted that ANLCA has always been in support of PAAR from the onset, stressing that the customs and ANLCA are partners in progress in ensuring that the scheme succeed.
The ANLCA president added that, “PAAR is working as we speak, but people had said initially that it will not work, but we all know that it has recorded some level of success".
He also stated that revenue generation by the service has been tremendous since the PAAR regime found its footing.
Shittu reiterated that the scheme has also helped in the area of security at the port.
Also speaking in the same vein, Shittu’s counterpart at the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF); Chief Eugene Nweke in a paper titled: ‘x- raying and analysing the effectiveness of PAAR’,said that the PAAR regime has been effective in the last couple of months.
Nweke described PAAR as an application that is been utilised for international best practice.
Speaking on some of the challenges, he stressed that there was delay in providing critical historical data for migration of customs, thereby hampering on proper filtering and migration of data to the new platform.
He further stressed that the PAAR regime remains a capable modern trade facilitation tool, adding that it is in compliance to international best practice.
According to him, "the provision of at least two weeks to conclude all documentation processes before vessel arrival is unbeatable, if diligent efforts and honesty is applied in all facets of international transactions and clearance procedures within the customs ports"
He further implored the Customs service to fast track the full integration and automation process, linking critical stakeholders on the platform, while shipping companies and terminal operators are equally advised to follow suit, as this will further reduce the incidences of human contact to cargo.
On the part of the customs, it’s Comptroller General; Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi appealed to freight forwarders to help to ensure that PAAR works better.
Represented by the Controller of Apapa Area One Command, Comptroller Charles Edike, Dikko told operators that the PAAR regime still needs encouragement from stakeholders.
Dikko said for PAAR to work better, transparency must be the hallmark of the freight agents, saying that genuine declaration by the importers will help as well.
According to him, training of agents is key to assisting PAAR work more effectively; adding that with training of agents, clearance of goods at the port will be faster.
He also said change of business method and strategy will also assist PAAR to work better
He however reiterated that PAAR has come to stay for the benefit of port operations and the economy of the nation.
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