The on-going Nigeria Customs trade modernization programme has gulped not less than N3.2 billion, the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Alhaji Adewale Bashir Adeniyi has said.
Maritime Bits had reported that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) trade modernization programme which is an initiative of the NCS High Command under Adeniyi watch is aimed at automating all documentation processes in goods clearance at the nation’s seaports across the across the country.
Adeniyi who dropped this hint in Lagos at the 9th AMSAY Conference organised by Platform Communications recently said that the service however plans to generate N250 billion from the project.
He noted that the concession period will last for 20 years and that over 67 scanners have been procured to ensure that goods are scanned and the delay associated with physical examination discarded.
The CGC who was represented at the occasion by Assistant Controller Abbas Oyindamola also disclosed that the project has started yielding fruitful results as NCS Apapa Area Command generated N1.3 trillion.
According to him, another benefit of the scheme is the reduction of goods clearance procedure from 21 days to between 7 and 10 days while vehicles and general cargoes can by cleared at PTML terminal within 1 hour and 7 hours respectively.
The NCS boss stated further that the project incorporates the National Single Window project and B’ Odogwu scheme which have been deployed at PTML and will soon be extended to NCS, Tin-Can Island Command, Apapa, Lagos.
Dwelling on his paper in line with the theme of the conference “Automation and Digitalisation of Maritime Operations”, Adeniyi noted that purpose of National Single Window is to bring together about 150 government agencies under one online portal.
He stressed that the NCS has a dedicated information technology unit working in collaboration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to integrate all the multiple agencies into one portal.
He described the B’Odogwu scheme as web based and user friendly that will enhance paperless transactions.
In his own presentation on the future of Nigerian students, Engr. Emmanuel Efuomanefe advised students to be focused and identify core areas of competence in the maritime industry.
