Modernizing Customs operations with available technologies will help cover any gaps in its operations, says Nwabunike
By Uzor Odigbo
National President of the Association of Nigerian licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA), Hon. Tony Iju Nwabunike, has denounced all seizures of goods by Customs on the expressway and advised that it could be effected at the ports.
Nwabunike made this known during a chat with newsmen centred on modernisation and effective use of technology to enhance ease of doing business at the ports.
According to him, this would be possible if agencies of government deploy proper modernisation tools and ease of doing business mechanisms at the ports.
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He gave a vivid example of existing gaps that made things difficult
“In a modernised customs system, infractions such as concealments, smuggling necessitating seizures and arrests can be effected right inside the ports. You don’t need FOU and strike force to either stop, reexamine or chase released cargoes about.
“Modernisation provides a single window for ease of access to information and data by all government agencies, it enhances economic and security advantages for the country. It is targeted at efficiency and risk reduction. We have not been able to use it to cover all the gaps”
The ANLCA boss also believes that if all agencies would inculcate simple technology in their system, ease of doing business at the port would be achieved.
“This is a topic is centred on modernisation and I agree that many laudable changes are happening. Almost three decades ago when some of us entered the maritime industry, customs duty was paid in cash. That era had what we call the Long Room which today has been replaced by Customs Processing Centre. Officers and a few privileged agents were trained on basic computer operations under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Because UNCTAD chose the Benin Republic as an avenue for the training, senior customs officers were sponsored to Cotonou just to learn how to operate computers.
“The Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) was the breakthrough stage for us as agents in terms of customs modernisation. There were stages of migration from ASYCUDA to ASYCUDA+ and later ASYCUDA++ in early 2000.
“The glitches or severe failures experienced in our transactions sometimes, these days, didn’t start now. It was an intermittent feature then.
“The evolving and improving state of customs ICT architecture has led to the service using tools of artificial intelligence with capacity to monitor transactions do profiling, risk assessment, carry out the examination (using scanners for image analysis) and more.
“We have progressed greatly, but a bit still far from where we ought to be.” he said.
