The Tin Can Island Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is yet to deploy the scanner it received more than five weeks ago, findings by SHIPS & PORTS have revealed.
SHIPS & PORTS reported that the Area Command received the mobile scanner made by Chinese firm Nuctech on September 20, 2021 to facilitate Customs examination and enhance the delivery of cargoes to consignees.
The command had described the scanner as a positive milestone in the service efforts to modernise Customs operations at the port, smooth ease of doing business, facilitate trade and enhance security with easier detection of all prohibited imports.
However, a visit to the command on Tuesday revealed that work was still ongoing to install the facility more than five weeks after its arrival.
The command’s spokesman, Uche Ejesieme, in a chat with SHIPS & PORTS, attributed the delay in the deployment of the scanner to “the installation of software and subsystems”, which he said was still ongoing.
“The scanners are yet to be fully deployed as installation of software and subsystems is ongoing and this is going side by side with retraining of scanning officers. All these processes are in preparation for the full deployment where the Minister and Comptroller-General (of Customs) will be available for the commissioning,” he said.