The implementation of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had enhanced cargo clearance within 24 hours.
The National Secretary of the Association of Nigeria Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr Emmanuel Oparah, stated this during interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
Oparah added that the initial challenges faced by importers were over.
He said the implementation of PAAR by the customs was so far highly commendable.
The implementation of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had enhanced cargo clearance within 24 hours.
The National Secretary of the Association of Nigeria Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr Emmanuel Oparah, stated this during interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
Oparah added that the initial challenges faced by importers were over.
He said the implementation of PAAR by the customs was so far highly commendable.
“If you drop your papers, you get your PAAR within 48 hours and clear your goods.
“The initial problem experienced by the customs service was those associated with new ideas as every new system comes with its attendant problems.
“I am happy that the service had been able to overcome the challenges.’’
According to him, PAAR has eliminated corruption associated with the importation of goods.
He urged the Comptroller General to identify those officers working against the success of PAAR and remove them from the system.
Sani Usman, Chairman, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Abuja Chapter, also said PAAR facilitated trade by eliminating bottlenecks that caused delay and eliminated costs arising from demurrage.
Usman added that the only problem importers experienced recently was network failure arising from rainstorm that affected the server.
According to him, experiencing network problem does not mean that the system has failed “because we make use of networks that are dependent on weather conditions.
“For instance, there was storm that damaged the server here yesterday and as such we could not work, that does not mean that PAAR is not working.
“Some people were living fat on demurrage and they are no longer benefiting from the proceeds.
“PAAR has eliminated demurrage because none of my clients has paid for demurrage since the inception of PAAR”, he added.
NAN reports the Federal Government in transferred Destination Inspection to the customs service in Dec. 2013.
PAAR enables the service to classify and value goods imported to Nigeria without any partiality.
It also allows commercial banks to upload the necessary documents for approval.
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