CG, NCS, Hameed Alli,

The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service,  Col. Hameed Alli, has reiterated the NSC’s commitment to promote trade facilitation which he said was at the core of NCS work; from developing tools to help companies in trade and ensuring government develops right policy to drive trade.

Hameed gave the assurance during the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Freight Forwarders Group Annual Seminar on Thursday in Lagos tagged: ‘Trade Facilitation on Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II)-Advantages and Development.’

Hameed who was represented by the Comptroller, Controller Administration, Zonal Headquarters, Yaba, Adetoye Tade, said that the introduction of NICIS II had reduced processing time of documents, web-based accessibility by smartphones, data control to guide correct declaration, help in data capture and attachment of scanned documents for online submission. NICIS II was a clearance application developed by NCS to modernise the clearance of goods at the ports and border stations.

For the President Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Babatunde Ruwase, the adverse operating environment of the nation’s ports will continue to hinder Federal Government’s effort to reduce dependence on oil revenues for economic development.

Ruwase who was represented by the Vice President of the LCCI, Mr Varkey Verghese, said that significant efforts were made in reforming the maritime sector through concessioning of the ports in the early 2000s, noting that results of the reforms were below expectations.

He said that the regulatory landscape was complex with numerous public agencies regulating private terminal operators and myriad of businesses in freight forwarding, logistics and trade.

“Consequently, operators and users of Nigerian ports are faced with bureaucratic red tape, constant delays, high cost and illegal charges,” he said.

He added that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in its bid to surmount the problem, introduced the Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II) to facilitate ease of doing business.

“While we commend the efforts of the Customs Service in the introduction of NICIS II, we would like to underscore the need for customs to do more in the area of trade facilitation. The business community still encounter too many problems in cargo clearing process. This is not consistent with the ease of doing business agenda of the government,” he said.

Commenting, Mr Chukwuemeka Akujiobi, the Assistant Director, Compliance and Enforcement, Nigerian Shippers Council, said most ports across the country were not up to standard in terms of infrastructure that would drive customer’s satisfaction.

Akujiobi said that the council would continue to monitor activities of all operators toward ensuring adherence to standards that would catalyse economic growth.