NSC to partner customs on 48-hour cargo clearance at seaports

To facilitate 48-hour cargo clearance at the nation’s seaports, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) is to collaborate with Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

Receiving the NCS Zone ‘A’ Coordinator, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Charles Edike, who paid him a courtesy visit in Lagos, the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Hassan Bello said the collaboration is key to the cargo clearance processes.

Bello noted that the automation of the ports system would eliminate corruption and bring about efficiency and effective technological drive, adding that there would be less human contact in the clearance procedures.

Bello said there was a need for collaboration, noting that NSC had been listening to many complaints from all port operators.

Bello appealed to the Customs to look into the issues surrounding duty payable on consignment.

He urged government agencies to embrace single window platform, pointing out that the collaboration would increase revenue collection.

He said: “We believe in automation and we want a situation where we use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities. We believe that modern trade facilitation is anchored on automation because this will bring about much transparency, credibility, efficiency”, adding that the process will boost the participation and collaboration’’.
Bello said: “There is corruption in the port system and one of the easiest ways to banish it is through ICT because it will bring about transparency and this is the time to bring about technology at the ports, we cannot wait for any other time”.
In his response, Edike said that the service is making effort to purchase new scanner that will be deployed to the ports soon.