Importer Advocates Port Digitalization To Ease Cargo Clearance,Knock Customs FOU

An importer of computer accessories, Mr. Ugwu Chidiebere has expressed dissatisfaction over deficit of infrastructure in  port operations even as he urged  the federal government to expedite action to embrace digitalization system of cargo clearance.

 

Ugwu who is the Managing Director, Blueshield Computer Limited, a major distributor of HP computers and other accessories within West and Central Africa,stressed the need for government to revamp the comatose seaports in the southern part of the country, name Warri and Calabar ports respectively.

The importer also urged management of the Nigeria Customs Service to caution officers and men of the Federal Operation Units (FOU) on the highways to display high level of professionalism in dealing with shippers and freight agents as against their consignments.

 

 

The shipper lamented  that waylaying to cargoes along the roads by FOU officers  after examination and clearance of cargoes from the seaports by the same customs officers affect the integrity of the service , pointing out that such practice has negative impact  to the international community on  trade in line with Nigeria customs operations.

 

Ugwu who spoke to DAILYFOCUS NIGERIA after a brief award ceremony in Lagos on Wednesday , reiterated that digitalization of port operations would create an enabling environment for international trade to thrive in the  country,thus with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) mandate of the federal government.

 

According to him, much has not been achieved in port efficiency and effectiveness due to lack of computer amenities but opined the computerisation of cargo clearance would further enhance the ease of doing business.

 

Highlighting some of the challenges faced by importers in the last four years of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the importer lamented that sourcing of foreign exchange, government bureaucracy of cargo clearance poses serious threat to the business as major distributor of ICT in Nigeria .

 

“We are not satisfied with the process of cargo clearance from the ports because there is problem of bottleneck by customs, issue of fluctuation of FOREX which basically is a huge problem to surmount .

 

“I will love this government to improve on the port facilities because the roads linking the seaport is an eyesore and goods need to leave the ports and get to the destination on time to boost turnover.

 

 

“Government need to expedite actions to complete the railway network with the ports,and encourage port business in the eastern seaports to boost the ease of doing business.

 

On customs he said “We need to stop manual processes of cargo clearance and encourage digitalization because,this process is faster, seamless and attract less human contact which would result to corruption.

 

“For me government needs to warn the customs FOU and those at the ports, because once  the examinations have carried out from the seaport, there is no point intercepting such  cargoes again.”

 

By Roland Ekama