TRADE FACILITATION: NAGAFF Expresses Dissatisfaction Over NICIS 2 Ineptitude

Roland Ekama, Lagos

 

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) ,has expressed dissatisfaction of the slow pace of the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS 2) , stressing the need for the Nigeria Customs Service to engage relevant stakeholders in port operations before embarking on new innovation to boost trade facilitation.

 

The umbrella body of freight forwarding practice in Nigeria also described the customs platform as “static “,” inept” and ” retrograde ” in its operations.

 

NICIS is a portal introduced by the customs to enhance,  secure and facilitate trade and it is aimed to harmonise and integrate trade chain.

 

The customs since the introduction of the NICIS to the maritime community in 2017, has characterised the platform as the best single window portal that has aided trade facilitation and the ease of doing business in port operations.

 

But National President of the association , Dr. Increase Uche in chat with newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos,lamented that NICIS 2 has failed to meet stakeholders expectation in the clearance of goods from the nation’s seaports.

 

Uche further frowned at the slow pace recorded by the platform since its inception,adding that” The only way we can improve on facilitation of trade is to embrace the right portal.

 

Uche noted that during the era of ASYCUDA  ,the traders zone and customs zone, facilitated trade thus some of these non compliance currently experienced were not found back then.

 

 

The President said:”You can’t be subjecting all the cargoes to physical examination, you have to provide scanners because it is long overdue.

 

Since 2012, the portal has remained the same. Customs could not continue from where the service providers ended.

 

“Even the new system that customs introduced from NICIS 1 to NICIS 2, it has not really worked as we expected.

 

“Whether they are still doing the pilotage stage. But if indeed they have started full implementation of NICIS 2, we need to see change, we need to see it reflect in the pattern in which things are done and the way businesses are conducted in the port.

 

“As at the last time, I was still telling them that we are yet to see the impact of NICIS 2 because what we saw during ASYCUDA 2.7 and 3.0 seemed to be better than what we are seeing today.

 

Speaking further, he said: In NICIS 2, I have not seen a clear departure from what we have been seeing before.

 

“Formally, when we had the traders zone and customs zone, some of these non compliance were almost reducing.

 

“All of a sudden, the NICIS 2 came up and the trader zone was terminated and every other thing was jam packed and there was no more clear cut procedure.

 

“Immediately you do your declaration, you wouldn’t know where you are going until you bring the container out.

 

“Everything you see in terms of interruptions from intelligence unit, investigative unit and others up to nine of them. It has never been like this before.

 

“What we are advising is that stakeholders input has to be included before introducing these current regimes.” he stressed.