Customs Begins Training Of Personnel Ahead Of AfCFTA Deal

The Nigeria Customs Service on Thursday , said it has commenced training of personnel ahead of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) expected to start January 1st 2021.

 

 

The Service also disclosed plans to roll out an electronic-Customs platforms with capacity to promote future increase in cargo throughput using technology.

 

The e-Customs is set to commence next week, even as the  Service said  the platforms would enhance and improve operational methodologies in the agency.

 

The National Public Relations Officer of NCS, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah said this at the training workshop organised by Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) in Lagos.

 

Attah who was represented at the training by Uche Ejesieme, a

Superintendent of Customs added that the role of the Service in the blue economy would have to do with its initiative towards improving Customs processes and procedures.

 

“Now the big story, as all of us are aware, customs is going fully electronic and when we go electronic it simply means that all our transaction and processes will go electronic.

 

“All internal memo and every of our transaction will go electronic. This is new trend that will start next week and officers and men will go through training and retraining of the new order

 

He said this while stating the roles of the Nigeria Customs Service in the blue economy project.

 

 

 

He said, “Our role in the blue economy will have to do with our initiative towards improving customs processes and procedures e.g. you will recall that our automation process began with ASYCUDA, then transited to ASYCUDA++, then we had ASYCUDA 2.7 version, then NCIS 1 and now NCIS 2.

 

Now, the Service is working on a more active platform/system that will be launched next week that will have the capacity to promote future increase in cargo throughput using technology.”

 

He added that some deliberate steps created by the service in dealing with Trade Related Disputes include; creation of the dispute resolution committee at the headquarters and at area command’s, the committee’s are charged with the responsibilities of identifying trade dispute and addressing them expeditiously with minimal delays.

 

According to him, there is a renewed synergy and collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and other critical security and regulatory agencies in seaports, airports and the borders.

 

He maintained that the initiative has enhanced the speed with which issues are handled without the usual rancour, acrimony and which hitherto was the order of the day.

 

The marine unit of the Service, he said , has helped to confront smugglers at the waterways, making seizures and decimating their heinous activities.

 

 

 

Earlier in his remarks, President of AMJON , Mr. Paul Ogbuokiri said “This year’s edition is a peculiar edition as the year itself is a peculiar one as the year will go down in history as one of the  toughest in human history and one of the worst Nigeria has witnessed as a nation.

 

“It is a year of unrealised dreams and a year of jettisoned set targets, even as all energies were directed towards saving and staying alive.

 

“This year will bid bye in the next two weeks, is a year our economy went down to its lowest, entering into second recession in less than four years and the worst in 33 years.

 

However, he noted that “Though the darkness still hovers in the sky as the imminent second wave of covid-19 stares us in the face, there is a ray of light in the dark tunnel as the hope for vaccine for the dreaded pandemic rises.

 

“With that hope, is the our strong believe that our economy will not only exit recession in 2021, but it is envisaged that the country will go ahead to record a 1.2% GDP growth in the coming year and our maritime industry, ladies and gentlemen is been looked upon to play a crucial role in his direction.

 

“As the industry sets to play this messianic role of seeing our economy out of the economic quagmire through the the Blue Economy Project,  AMJON being the pacesetter in developmental journalism in the industry deems it necessary to properly educate its members on this all important subject so that we will properly inform industry stakeholders and the general public whom their buy in is needed and support is a must for the success of the project and by extension, the revival of our economy.”he said.

 

 

 

By Roland Ekama