Following moves being made by the Nigeria Customs Service that the service to acquire new equipment valued at N20 billion for its operations at the ports, a maritime group; Save Nigerian Freight Forwarders Importers Exporters Coalition (SNFFIEC), has faulted the idea.
The activists group said the amount was too much especially at a time when the country is facing economic hardship.
Coordinator of the group; Sir Osita Chukwu Patrick in a chat with Shipping Position Daily,in Lagos reiterated that the move by the Comptroller General of customs is totally uncalled for, stressing that the service needs to emulate smaller countries in the region about how the customs manages their resources and facilities.
Osita noted that the destination inspection service providers were able to manage the equipment successfully before handing over to customs, adding that there is need for customs to maintain the ones under its supervision.
Osita called on the National Assembly to demand explanation from the customs chief as to why such an amount must be disbursed for the procurement of equipment.
The port activist argued that the scanners at the ports are not obsolete; stressing that there is need for purposeful maintenance culture.
He stressed, that customs should request for some scanners to complement the existing ones available.
According to him, “there is need for more scanners, but the figure involved is not worth it at time the country is suffering from too many challenges”.
The freight agent said, “We need to learn how to get it right by not allowing some set of people to influence us with little things”.
The port activist alleged further that the request from the customs is another avenue to siphon money from the present government, adding that neighbouring ports currently clear consignment under 48 hours with lesser number of scanners in place.
Osita explained that port of Cotonou could achieve 48 hours clearance, because of its maintenance culture.
He stressed that: “Don’t spend taxpayers’ money unnecessarily and government should not allow the ministry of finance to spend N20billion on facilities that we won’t see at the end of the day”
” Let the customs tell Nigerians why they cannot maintain the existing scanners in place because those scanners are still alright, just that they need some additional equipment to hasten clearance procedures at the ports”.
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