Oluyinka Onigbinde
Even though they were acquired at different times in some seaports and some land borders, stakeholders have accused personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) of deliberately sabotaging the scanners that were installed.
Findings by Shipping Position Daily newspaper have revealed several reasons the multi-billion scanners have refused to work, despite several promises by the service to put the scanners to work.
Checks by our correspondent revealed that Customs commands with cargo scanners have deliberately refused to put the scanners to work, even though some of the commands had put up a defence as to why the scanners are not working or why they’ve refused to put the scanners to work.
Clearing agents and notable industry stakeholders in the nation’s maritime industry have sighted corruption and aiding and abetting the importation of psychotropic drugs as some of the major reasons the scanners have remained idle.
The clearing agents alleged that despite the provision of the non-intrusive machines by foreign bodies, the NCS has allegedly deliberately scuttled the process of using the scanners, so as to continuously maintain a physical relationship with importers and clearing, a development that breeds corruption at the ports and land borders.
It would be recalled that as part of efforts to enhance seamless cargo inspection as well as trade across borders, the European Union (EU) acquired and handed over new cargo scanning machines to the NCS and Togolese Customs in 2018.
According to the EU, the scanners were acquired with the sole aim of aiding trade along the West African trade corridors.
Also, scanners were acquired at the completion of the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, which was also funded by the EU for the ECOWAS and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). The new border post was handed over to the governments of Nigeria and Benin in June 2019.
Also in September 2019, the Nigeria Customs Service, Area II Command, Onne Port, Rivers took delivery of a cargo scanning machine.
Similarly, the Nigeria Customs Service at Tin Can Island Port took delivery of two Nuctech mobile scanners with accessories in September 2021.
Aside from having a functional scanner at the border, clearing agents have stated that it has become worrisome that, years after the Destination Inspection (DI) service providers handed over some mobile scanning machines worth over $120 million, built and situated in different port locations and border stations, the Customs has failed to fully make use of these machines in clearing cargo.
There are fears as to why about 90 per cent of all the containers and general cargoes imported through the nation’s seaports and borders undergo a manual inspection process popularly known as 100 per cent physical examination.
Speaking on why the scanners are not working, the acting president of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Dr. Kayode Farinto blamed corruption among government officials as the major reason the Customs scanners are not working. He alleged further that the officials of NCS are enjoying the 100% cargo examination because of the physical contact which he said encourages corruption.
“Customs are enjoying the 100% cargo examination because of the physical contact and this is encouraging corruption.
“In the last few months, I have led my association to the National Assembly to argue on the need to have scanning machines, now the scanning machines are available Customs have refused to use them, meaning somebody somewhere still wants us to be rigmarolling, it’s very unfortunate” he said.
Also, clearing agents at the PTML terminal at Tin Can lament that the scanners are not working. They also accuse Customs officers of deliberate sabotage. According to those who spoke anonymously, the non-usage of the scanners is a deliberate act on the part of the officers.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of West African Road Transport Union (WARTU)and Vice Chairman of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) at Seme Border Chapter, Mr Peter Umukoro, said no one can really explain why the Customs is yet to put the scanners donated by the EU to Seme border to work.
He said: “The scanners at Seme border; they have been using them before, but you know when you use something without proper maintenance, it will get spoilt and the exact thing that got spoilt has not been fixed, the one given to them by the EU is still there, they are yet to start using it, we cannot really say why they are yet to put it to work” he said.
Also speaking, an official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity alleged that some corrupt officials of NCS deliberately sabotage the use of scanners in order to aid the importation of psychotropic drugs that would have been detected by scanners if in use.
He said despite the large seizures recorded by the NDLEA, he said some importers still take the advantage of the lack of scanners to bring in illegal drugs into the country.
“The Customs don’t want to use scanners, because they are making serious money from it. I mean millions of naira.
“Those who bring in these illegal drugs pay huge amounts to officers if the scanners were in place; of course it will detect such.
“The fact that there are no scanners at the port has made our work tedious, we now rely on intelligence reports, because during an examination of cargo we have limited time, how do we examine a 40ft container in less than an hour, it’s not possible so we rely on intelligence gathering” he said.
Giving reasons the scanners are not working at Tin Can Port, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Uche Ejieseme said, “the scanners otherwise known as non-intrusive machines have been fully installed. You will recall that the House of Representatives committee on Customs was in Tin Can about three or four days ago and they were updated with the latest on the scanners”.
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“Following the installation of the scanners, all the officers have been mentored, they have undergone various forms of training; from the scanner manager to everybody and the service and the command are very set, what is left is for just the Customs hierarchy to liaise with the Ministry of Finance to arrange a day for commissioning. We are believing that any moment, the Minister of Finance will come and commission it, we will start operations”, he said.
Meanwhile, briefing newsmen last weekend, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Command, Comptroller Malanta Yusuf gave reasons the scanners are not working at the Apapa port. He blamed the ongoing standard gauge rail construction in Apapa port.
He said the Service has been unable to use the scanning machines, because of the need to prevent health challenges to rail workers from radioactive facilities.
“Scanners are already on ground, but we have logistics challenge because the standard gauge rail line is passing through the scanning site. We can’t operate the scanners while the rail construction work is in progress because the radioactive activity would pose health threats to the workers.”
“These scanners have already been synchronized with the current platform of NCS which is the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) II. The scanners in Onne and Tin Can Island are working.” he said.
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