Chief John Aluya (immediate past Vice President MAN)
I think you should ask Customs what they have done with the implementation of this single window. There have been several budgets from the Customs hierarchy to implement this single window. But why are they not implementing it? And what do they do with the money? I think you should put the question straight to the Customs to answer that question because we, the OPS, cannot go and impose a single window on them. We cannot buy a scanning machine and give it to them. They will not take it. They will even take it as a suspect. So, what have they done with all the budgets for single window
Simeon Nwonu (Deputy National President, NAGAFF)
A lot of things are responsible. You know some of these government agencies like to play as lone rangers; nothing is defined. Is the single window to be created by Customs and to be managed by Customs? But at the same time Customs seems not to like the idea. In theory they do, but in practice they seem not and that has been a very big problem because if the single window is operational, agencies like Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) and NAFDAC will not be finding it difficult to access documents ahead of time. But the truth is that it is hindered by corruption.
Ordinarily in the era of this NICIS, freight forwarders are not expected to interface with Customs officers. But if you fail to interface, your job will not be done. So, the issue of single window may not see the light of the day, because many factors which are internal are inhibiting its operation. Otherwise single window would have become a thing of the past by now.
Rev. Jonathan Nicole (Former President, SALS)
Well, I think it’s a difficult question to answer, because it has to do with government agencies and there must be uniformity. I think they did a test run recently when my consignment was coming and they said I have to use a single window, so everything was downloaded, even the CBN had to do some approval. Yes, it is going on, but slowly too, and then we have the change of government. So, whatever it is, the concept is there, and it will come on stream when we have the political will to make it work. And again, you know, it will be a new introduction into the system. This paperless system will gradually pick up, so it’s not going to be easy. Yes. We are used to the old system. It’s going to be a little bit difficult for the agencies to adapt. So, we are hoping that it will come on stream when all the agencies have logged in with the Customs website. My own company was part of the ones used to test-run. Nigerian imports are huge, so they are looking at space and time. The agencies will have to work within the limited time factor. So, it will take some time.
Barr. Osuala Nwagbara (Maritime Lawyer)
The reason the various agencies have not been able to come under one umbrella to function as a single window for information collation, information transmission, and information exchange in the maritime industry, is because each of the agencies appears to be operating in silos and is not good for the development of the maritime industry. A few years back, we saw government agencies collaborating to find solutions to the various challenges that we have in the maritime industry. But that appears to have slipped over, and we don’t hear about that anymore. We need to have a single window to serve the purpose it is designed to serve, as far as data collation and information dissemination is concerned in the maritime industry. I think that Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority and NIMASA are interested parties in the port industry. But you find that the only agency that is best suited in the circumstance if the single window must serve its purpose is the Nigerian Shipper’s Council, which also serves as the economic regulator of the port. So, it is best suited to do this, because it will use information which it gathers very effectively in regulating the port sector from the economic point of view. So, it is expected that the government would make this happen. Government, now that we have the Ministry of Maritime and Blue Economy, that ministry should ensure the implementation of a single window project in the maritime industry.
Clinton Okoro (APFFLON PRO, Tin Can Chapter)
Well, if you ask around, especially Customs and some other government agencies, they will tell you that they are operating on single windows, which of course indirectly is true. The word indirectly means that it is something that is supposed to be visible, but they are trying to just maneuver their ways. Lately, we discovered that some agencies are not supposed to have access to it, like the Maritime Police, because I guess that is where they are also just intruding into that. So, I think it is somehow in existence, but the system in Nigeria is just trying to achieve those things that are not workable. But it is supposed to be easy for every practitioner in the industry, including the freight forwarders, because with single window, we also have access to that portal. Whatever that we want to do, like releasing the job even in our offices; we can go ahead and do them. But, some of the systems that the customs officers support are just for their own good or for their own interest. So, that is the reason some of the things are the way they are. It is very sad.
Anthony Onyike (National Vice President, NAFFAC)
Single window has been subject of discussion within the maritime circle for years now and I believe the government has been planning for it. I think corruption is the bane of its implementation. Government agencies and the Customs do not want it to be in place because if it happens, there will be very minimal human contact during cargo clearance. They know that if you do everything online, the Customs and other government agencies alike will no longer make illegal money, hence the delay in implementing the single window. We just hope that it works out this year.
Sir John Oforbike (ANLCA Chieftain)
The single window has been an issue that has been discussed severally over the years and it seems as if the government is not ready to listen to stakeholders on this. I don’t know who will come to help us again. Everybody is only after their corrupt gains. We have been complaining about most of the current port processes which are not working well. Are the people who are going to lead the single window coming from heaven? Every leader comes with a new system but the operatives are the one who spoil everything by putting clogs in the wheel of progress. Let us continue to hope that the Single window will be implemented this year. Everything in the port is really not working as it should and it is quite unfortunate.
Frank Obiekezie (National Secretary, AREFFN)
Speaking of the single window, there is nothing new to say about it. It’s a proposal and it has been on for a long time. If we implement it now, it will be greatly welcome. It’s what everybody has been clamoring for. The single window is expected to be a platform where everybody will be on the same page at the same time. If it is implemented, so be it. We need it. It has a lot of advantages and, you know, it aids the processes. So, I don’t have much on that. We hope that they implement it this year and we would be glad if they do.
