30 May 2018, Sweetcrude, Lagos – Customs Area Controller, CAC, in charge of Apapa Area 1 Command in Lagos, Jibrin Musa, has revealed that the ports in Lagos currently had only one functional scanning machine and that it was not adequate for the volume of work at the port.
Speaking at a meeting with journalists in Lagos, the Customs boss also lamented the failure of the Customs server, saying this has slowed down port operations.
“We have only one scanner that is working in Apapa (port). At Tin Can (port) and other areas, we do not even have any, but in Apapa we have one that is functioning.
“If you have a backlog of work, how many containers can pass the scanner? If every importer wants to pass their containers through the scanning site it would not be obtainable because we have just one machine,” he said.
Musa also spoke of the challenge of system errors experienced in the execution of the Nigeria Customs Integrated System 2, NICIS2 – the new Customs automated system for cargo clearance.
The Apapa Customs boss, who was represented by Yahaya Mukhtar, Officer in Charge of Customs Processing Centre, CPC, Apapa, called for stakeholders’ understanding of the situation, even as he called on importers to always make correct declarations.
He said that wrong declaration and infractions were the major cause of delay in cargo clearance.
Jibrin however assured that the server failure at the ports will not lead revenue losses for the command.
