Complaints of frequent breakdown of the server of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) do not only emanate from ports in Lagos but also from ports in the eastern part of the country.
A few months ago, agents operating at the Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC) and Ports and Terminal Multi-services Limited (PTML) terminal in Lagos had complained bitterly to SHIPS& PORTS DAILY of the regular failure of Customs’ internet server describing the rate at which the server system breaks down as an act of sabotage by the service provider, Webb Fontaine.
Last Thursday SHIPS& PORTS DAILY again received complaints, this time around from agents operating at Onne Port in Rivers State, of the epileptic state of the Customs server and how it slows down cargo clearance procedures at the port.
A few months ago, agents operating at the Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC) and Ports and Terminal Multi-services Limited (PTML) terminal in Lagos had complained bitterly to SHIPS& PORTS DAILY of the regular failure of Customs’ internet server describing the rate at which the server system breaks down as an act of sabotage by the service provider, Webb Fontaine.
Last Thursday SHIPS& PORTS DAILY again received complaints, this time around from agents operating at Onne Port in Rivers State, of the epileptic state of the Customs server and how it slows down cargo clearance procedures at the port.
Chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Onne Chapter, Ossy Prestige, said that the server is like the engine that drives the ASYCUDA++ system and its frequent malfunction pose a major problem to agents operating at Onne seaport while carrying out their customs clearance procedures.
He also complained of Customs’ alleged tendency to impose Debit Notes (DN) on agents as another challenge they face operating at Onne port.
He said: “It is about customs raising debit notes and putting it in the system without even informing the agents in question that they have a DN. The procedure of them raising DN without giving it to the agent to contest and sign before they put in the system is another challenge we are having.”
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