In order to complement the 24-hour operations of the Nigeria Custom Service, a directive which was issued recently by the Minister of Finance, Dr . Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, there are indications that the Ports and Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML) command of the Nigeria Custom Service may be eyeing the creation of a micro finance bank which will be available for weekend cash operations within the command.
In order to complement the 24-hour operations of the Nigeria Custom Service, a directive which was issued recently by the Minister of Finance, Dr . Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, there are indications that the Ports and Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML) command of the Nigeria Custom Service may be eyeing the creation of a micro finance bank which will be available for weekend cash operations within the command.
Speaking in a chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Barrister Chinedu Ogbonna suggested that the command, can in partnership with one of the banks consider the creation of a branch within the command to be available for cash operations on weekends. This according to him will further set out the command as the leading vehicle terminal in the country.
Ogbonna said that the bank will be strictly for cash operations on weekends, and that this will further facilitate the 48-hour cargo clearance of the Nigeria Customs as well as its newly- introduced round- the- clock operations.
“The banks must be carried along in the 48- hour cargo clearance realization and in our 24-hour operations, just like we have banking on wheels, we can have a bank on weekends within the area of our operations, a special arrangement can be made where we can have this system. They could open a window for this purpose, say, between 9am to -1pm, so that those who want to pay in can do so and proceed from their”, he stated.
Ogbonna also said that by the time such an operation kicks off, there might not be much patronage, but by the time they become more aware that there is cash operations, they will start turning up.
“If you check most of the banks on Mondays, you find out that they are always crowded because people want to pay” he said.
Speaking to our correspondent in the same vein, the Financial Secretary of the ‘Council of Elders’ under the Murtala Muhammed International airport chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Elder S.D Etim confirmed that weekend banking and cash operation is already in existence at the command and that it has been assisting agents in the payment of custom duties.
According to Elder Etim, the only snag is that the administrative arm of the Customs do not operate on weekends, it would have been very easy to clear on Saturdays and Sundays.
“The administrative arms are not operating, only the operations department are working on Saturdays, they don’t come on Sundays, so if you have cleared yourself you can carry your cargo from the terminal on Saturday, and if there is some other things to be paid you can do it on Saturday between 9-11. It is strictly a cash operation”
According to him, contrary to the impression that has been created about the 24-hour operations at the Nigeria Custom Service, the administrative arm do not work on weekends and that it is only the operations department that work on Saturdays alone.
Speaking further, he said that “the 24 hours operations by the customs is just an ordinary flash in the pan, it is not realizable and it is just a political statement”.
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