CUSTOMS OFFICERS TO FULLY MAN NEW SCANNING MACHINES

Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) will be fully responsible for the management and operations of the newly commissioned scanning machines installed at the Seaports in Nigeria.
 For now, the scanning machines are installed in Apapa and Tin Can, in Lagos and at Onne Seaport in Rivers state. 
 Already, about 120 officers have been trained for operating the high-tech equipment. 
 Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, of the new scanners in Lagos, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS),Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali(rtd) explained that this new assignment was part of reform strategy of the present Administration. 
” we were compelled to adopt this technology as the linchpin for trade facilitation “, the CGC further explained. 
He further stated that by recognizing its strategic importance “we have chosen to embrace it in its entirety”,adding the modernization project seeks to automate all our processes and procedures of which the inspection of important exports is fundamental ” 
” We know that to remain competitive, our Seaports have to be more effective and efficient .
 “As a trade increases in volume, so must our capacity for facilitation increase” The CGC stated.
He also said that efficient cargo management and full automation of Customs and other regulatory processes is guaranteed to bring down the cost of clearing and ultimately, the prices of goods in the open market , which will be beneficial to consumers in Nigeria.
 He said that as the lead agency in trade facilitation, “We are constantly in the business of re-inventing ourselves. Not satisfied with the achievements of the past, our focus is on making the present great and the future greater” he said.
 Ali said that where physical joint examination were not previously conducted by all relevant agencies, the scanning process will reduce the stress associated with positioning, Off loading and taking inventory of containers. 
On security, the CGC stated that, “since we know that a good number of items which pose a threat to national security, find their way through our various entry points, we behlieve that this equipment will greatly enhance our capacity to defend our dear nation”. 
Col. Ali further said that as we approach the phase one of the e-Customs modernization, we shall see the deployment of scanners to all Seaports, airports and approved land borders. 
He assured that the equipment will be put to good use for all.
 Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr(Mrs) Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed commended the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service , for his commitment towards the successful supply and installation of the three scanners.
She said that the hitherto process of physical examination of cargoes at the ports was too time consuming, caused loss of revenue to the government and therefore cannot be compared with the scanning of cargoes which is carried out in minutes and having the capacity to detect prohibited imports.
She said that the commissioning of the three scanners would expedite Customs operations, achieve ease of doing business at the ports, facilitate trade, prevent port congestion, increase government’s revenue as well as improve national security.  
 She confirmed that efforts were on to procure more scanners for the Seaports, airports and land borders.