By Shola Fadeyi
The Nigerian Customs Service, NCS has advised the stakeholders operating at the nation’s seaports to upgrade their Information Computer Technology (ICT) infrastructure to fast track clearing of goods at the ports.
The Customs Public Relations Officer(PRO) of the NCS , Deputy Comptroller Timi Bomodi who gave the advice on the early morning programme of Arise News Television, yesterday added that the step would also facilitate trade and enhance the Ease of Doing Business scheme of the Federal Government.
According to him , stakeholders cannot afford to be operating manually in the 21st century at the ports, and expect that cargo dwell time of goods would be facilitated.
He said that the customs , which the stakeholders are dealing with, has since gone ahead to upgrade its ICT platform, and as such, they also need to be in sync with it ,to avoid a situation where goods would be staying longer than necessary at the ports, and as such be incurring avoidable demurrage.
Bomodi disclosed that the stakeholders are like a link in a customs chain , adding that since a chain is as strong as its weakest link , they must continue to upgrade just as the customs has done ,and continues to do, for them to benefit from improved services from the Customs.
He said the management of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) visited the Customs Comptroller General , Colonel Hameed Ali recently, and promised to upgrade its ICT and improve on capacity building for its personnel, urging others to follow suit to enhance ports efficiency.
The Customs PRO explained that the SON can also incorporate the Customs personnel in their ICT Upgrade training so that the para military body and the organization would be on the same page.
