Francis Omotosho (Acting Secretary \General, NAGAFF)
The truth of the matter is that the Customs are not ready for this task. We can remember so many years ago when the government reached out to the destination inspection companies who render the service of scanning. The arrangement then was for the Customs to understudy them and be able to manage the scanner and operate it efficiently. Now that the contract with these companies have been terminated, the Customs is expected to take over but unfortunately, they are not ready by showing lackadaisical attitude.
In all other ports in the world, scanning makes the job easier and faster but in Nigeria, the reverse is the case. What we are seeing in the port now is that the Nigeria Customs are not ready. If they cannot manage the scanning, then we might need to call back those destination inspection companies.
Pius Ujubonu (Factional ANLCA Interim Chairman)
The scanners as a matter of fact are intended to be one of the trade facilitation tools. For any policy to achieve the purpose for which it is formulated, it has to take the will of the consumers and implementors of the policy. Looking at the quantum of consignments that have come in, we would check the effectiveness of the scanners, based on its workability of how many containers it can scan a day or in a week. To me, the Customs being quick to say the agents are not responding shows they are trying to cover something. It is a welcome development, but one month is too short to access its effectiveness. But if it requires 100 percent scanning, then 100 percent examination, then there is no need for the scanning.
Humphrey Okwuosa (Apapa Chapter Secretary, NCMDLCA)
Those scanners are not efficient. Because they want people to give them money then put the container under ‘suspect’ after scanning. I had an experience with them on one item that is well formed and because I refuse to give them money, they put it on suspect and when we went for physical examination it was exactly what I told them they found there. It is time-consuming. The system of scanning is not working well for now.
Simeon Nwonu (Deputy National President, NAGAFF)
Scanning machine is a technically complex machine which requires people with technical skills to handle. Part of the problems we have in Nigeria is policy somersault where we make a policy and within three months, we bring in another one. The government should have properly and highly trained officers to handle those scanners. They should also make provision for the persons working on the machines because of the high voltage radiations. The scanners also have life and should be allowed to rest, hence there should be provision for alternatives. The government needs to deploy more scanning machines to the seaports, border stations and airports. It was alleged that officers working on the scanners charge a special amount of money if you want them to give you a clean bill showing that your container is free from any contravention. Under the scanning system, there shouldn’t be any interface, but the Customs will still want you to come, so that they can ask for bribe.
Clinton Okoro (APFFLON PRO, Tin Can Chapter)
All those stories of scanning are just on paper. We have not heard anything scanning in Tin Can except if they have started at Apapa. The new system is for them to put the scanners at the place where the ship is berthing and they scan the containers before they go into the terminal but unfortunately there is nothing like that. We have not started anything like that. The Customs should just be very truthful about that because they are just on paper. Probably there is any other port they are talking about. But as for Tin Can and Apapa, I don’t think there is anything going on as regards the new process of scanning for now.
Alex Nwokedi (AREFFN Chairman, Committee on Customs)
The scanning machine is part of the single window project. The ones they have before have been lying desolate at the ports. The new scanners are not working optimally. Whatever they are doing now is just a test-run going by what Customs have instructed them to do concerning ease of doing business. The ease of doing business can only work when the infrastructure is available. The Customs is giving the government a wrong picture of the dealings in the port. It is the Customs that is frustrating this single window.
The Customs are just using the scanners because there is a matching order. The introduction of the scanning machine is more than 10 years and it has not been working. We are only doing physical examination. Most of the examination I do is physical. You can hardly see someone saying he is going for scanning and if he goes, it is another story. The process is very cumbersome like a manual examination. These are the issues to look into and ensure the system is being facilitated.
Stanley Ezenga (Former PRO, NAGAFF)
The scanning machine is a welcome development. It is expected to help eradicate importation of illicit cargoes or contraband. But unfortunately, the time frame is discouraging. It takes an average or three hours to scan like 10 containers. But with physical examination, you can scan up to 100 containers in a day. The clients who are the importers do not bargain that they will pay for demurrage and if a container that is supposed to take five days eventually takes 10 days, then that is a great disadvantage to us. Not that we are against scanning, we are only concerned about the time it takes to scan the containers. We believe it is a teething problem and with time those problems will be looked into.
We also look forward to a situation where the scanners will be stationed at the quayside, so that the containers are being scanned immediately they are brought from the ship instead of waiting for the presence of Customs to scan. They should scan the containers and send the data ahead.
Taiwo Fatomilola (National PRO AREFFN)
Why should we have only one scanner at Tin Can and also in Apapa? You can see the volume of containers at Tin Can let alone Apapa. Why can a scanner be available for thousands of containers? Is that not delay? And the Customs will be talking of fast tracking. When you position about 50 to 100 containers and the labours are on it for 100 percent examination, they will be done with it in a day. But while using scanners, people spend about five to seven days before they can scan their consignments. You would have to go and book and queue. So, who will be responsible for the demurrages. Is that not a form of demotion to the fast tracking that Customs has been publishing in the media? Customs is just using scanning as an experiment before they go back to their manual physical examination. That would have been the best.
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