ESCORT: Advocacy Group Decries Shortage Of Customs Personnel On Fastrack Cargoes

The Advocacy for Maritime Development Association (AMDA) has expressed worries over shortage of personnel in the Nigeria customs service for the escort of  fastrack and free trade zone cargoes to  final destination.

President of the Advocacy group, Segun Alabi made this known during a courtesy call to the  Zonal Coordinator, Zone A headquarters, Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller General ACG, .Modupe Aremu in Lagos.

According to him,  lack of personnel of the Federal Operations Unit of the customs assigned to escort fastrack and free trade zones cargoes has affected trade facilitation in the transport logistics chain, calling on management to employ more junior officers to carry out such activities.

The President noted that part of the visit was aimed to congratulate the newly deployed Zonal Coordinator of the zone, in a view to address some burning issues affecting trade facilitation and customs cargo clearance.

He also called on the Zonal Coordinator to look inward to address issues of multiple alert from the service.

While highlighting some of the problem affecting members of the group in port operations before the customs boss,  he said ” lack of personnel of the FOU to escort fastrack and free trade cargoes is a major challenge to our operations.

 

 

 

“We also want to let you know that lack of scanning  machines is another challenge we are facing in the ports in Lagos.

 

“Especially at APM. Terminals Apapa, we need scanners to facilitate trade. There is a lot of congestion in that terminal due to lack of scanners.

 

“We are appealing for management of the service to deploy scanners to these terminals for faster clearance of cargoes.

 

Continuing, Alabi alleged that: “A.P Moller Apapa is taking the advantage of lack of scanners to delay consignments at port but if the customs can provide those equipment on time , then we will  know what their next line of excuses will be.”

 

Alabi maintained during the era of scanners at the ports,60% of consignments were scanned after few days after arrival of the vessel but as we speak ,once a container is on yellow ; automatically it is subjected to 100% physical examination.

 

Responding ,ACG Aremu called on freight agents to ensure 100%  genuine declaration of their cargoes.

 

She  reiterated that compliance on the part of the shippers and freight agents was key in the line of cargo clearance processes and procedures.

 

ACG Aremu also disclosed that the service is set to deploy some of the newly recruited 3,000 junior officers to various customs units and  formations in filling the existing shortage of personnel.

By Roland Ekama

 

 

 

 

Caption : Second from Right Ojo Peters Akintoye, member AMDA, Zonal Coordinator ,Zone A, Nigeria Customs Service, ACG Aremu A., President AMDA ,Segun Alabi and PRO AMDA  Onyema Emmanuel (Left )during a courtesy visit to the customs zonal headquarters in Yaba Lagos on Friday.