I am very much in support that they take over. Customs hands are filled with many jobs so if they relieve them of scanning operations and handover to the former service providers, it will make the job flow and enhance trade facilitation. The expertise is not there because the officers are not seasoned in maintaining scanners. When we talk about trade facilitation and delivery of goods, the payment of the 1 percent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) by an average agent that his consignment is being delayed for weeks is nothing compared to the cost of demurrage he would have to bear as a result of the malfunction of the scanners now.
Nnamocha Joseph
Does it mean that they don’t have the manpower to do their work? It is only if they say they don’t have the manpower that is when they should be looking at engaging the Services of the formal destination inspection providers to do the job. But I think if Customs are generating billions, if they are in charge, they should know how to exercise control of being in charge, they should procure more machines, knowing well that the ones that were handed over to them were all obsolete. They can’t be working with obsolete machines because it won’t facilitate trade.
Emeka Chukwumalu
We are always talking about trade facilitation at the port but for a long time we have observed that the scanners have not been functional and all the goods that are profiled for scanning have been undergoing physical examination. My suggestion is that those who know about the maintenance should be allowed to takeover, to make sure that all the scanning machines are working because it seems that the Customs authorities who have trained some of their officers to use the scanners are not trained as technical engineers to repair or manage these scanners. The issue of 1 percent CISS was an agreement then but it must not be the same amount now if the service providers would eventually take over. Of course, they have to be paid for their service but it could be reviewed.
Arthur Igwilo
Customs does not have expertise in the maintenance of scanners, if they are to use it. But the people who supplies the scanners or who have expertise in the maintenance of the scanners should be brought back and be paid to maintain the scanners. Why we are paying the one percent is to pay for the services of the DI provider initially but they have been relieved of their job two years ago. We are still paying the money yet the scanners are not working? What stakeholders are saying is that rather than leave the scanners as it is, they should engage the service of those who can manage it so that it can facilitate the clearance of cargo. It is good to ensure that the scanners are optimally used to facilitate goods.
Azeez Ishola
It all depends on competency. All we need is effectiveness and efficiency on which ever group or organization that wants to handle the scanners whether Customs or the Service providers. Our problem is inefficiency and our concern as stakeholders is repair or replace. All we need is efficient and effective service that will facilitate trade. It does not matter who is managing it. Of course, we have been paying the 1 percent CISS but our major concern is how we get good service to the money paid.
Okon Emmanuel
I am very much in support that they take over. Customs hands are filled with many jobs so if they relieve them of scanning operations and handover to the former service providers, it will make the job flow and enhance trade facilitation. The expertise is not there because the officers are not seasoned in maintaining scanners. When we talk about trade facilitation and delivery of goods, the payment of the 1 percent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) by an average agent that his consignment is being delayed for weeks is nothing compared to the cost of demurrage he would have to bear as a result of the malfunction of the scanners now.
Nnamocha Joseph
Does it mean that they don’t have the manpower to do their work? It is only if they say they don’t have the manpower that is when they should be looking at engaging the Services of the formal destination inspection providers to do the job. But I think if Customs are generating billions, if they are in charge, they should know how to exercise control of being in charge, they should procure more machines, knowing well that the ones that were handed over to them were all obsolete. They can’t be working with obsolete machines because it won’t facilitate trade.
Emeka Chukwumalu
We are always talking about trade facilitation at the port but for a long time we have observed that the scanners have not been functional and all the goods that are profiled for scanning have been undergoing physical examination. My suggestion is that those who know about the maintenance should be allowed to takeover, to make sure that all the scanning machines are working because it seems that the Customs authorities who have trained some of their officers to use the scanners are not trained as technical engineers to repair or manage these scanners. The issue of 1 percent CISS was an agreement then but it must not be the same amount now if the service providers would eventually take over. Of course, they have to be paid for their service but it could be reviewed.
Arthur Igwilo
Customs does not have expertise in the maintenance of scanners, if they are to use it. But the people who supplies the scanners or who have expertise in the maintenance of the scanners should be brought back and be paid to maintain the scanners. Why we are paying the one percent is to pay for the services of the DI provider initially but they have been relieved of their job two years ago. We are still paying the money yet the scanners are not working? What stakeholders are saying is that rather than leave the scanners as it is, they should engage the service of those who can manage it so that it can facilitate the clearance of cargo. It is good to ensure that the scanners are optimally used to facilitate goods.
Azeez Ishola
It all depends on competency. All we need is effectiveness and efficiency on which ever group or organization that wants to handle the scanners whether Customs or the Service providers. Our problem is inefficiency and our concern as stakeholders is repair or replace. All we need is efficient and effective service that will facilitate trade. It does not matter who is managing it. Of course, we have been paying the 1 percent CISS but our major concern is how we get good service to the money paid.
Okon Emmanuel
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