The Area Controller of Nigeria Customs Service, Ports Terminal Multiservices Limited Command, Lagos, Mrs. Modupeola Aremu, has said that the degree of compliance by importers and agents with Customs’ rules and regulations has increased, and has lead to a reduction in cases of infractions such as under-declaration, concealment, smuggling and other Customs-related trade malpractices.
The rate of compliance by stakeholders has attained about 70 per cent since importers can get their consignment out in six hours if things are properly done. However, plans are being put in place to enlighten and educate shippers on import and trade issues such as usage of Information and Communication Technology to reduce human contact as well as deepening their knowledge about modernisation.
The Ports is pursuing and sustaining a tempo of optimum efficiency “Once your declaration is ready, You don have to see anybody to get your goods out from the port.
On the command’s degree of preparedness for the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda, the CAC noted that the PTML was a model port, adding, “We are ready, as I speak, for the 24-hour port operations. We do joint examination with other government agencies between the hours of 12 noon and 2 pm.
“We have a designated area in the command for examination and people doing business here are aware of it. Once we are done, we leave the examination bay to continue with other aspects of our operations.”
She added that the command had commenced work during the weekend in anticipation of an increase in imported vehicles through the seaports due to the ban on vehicle importation through land borders.
“We already have a large number of the throughput of vehicles coming into the country through the PTML. We are prepared for it and we now work at weekends if the need arises. As vessels discharge vehicles here, we have to make sure our officers are the ground to effect quick processing of entries and prompt release of cleared vehicles to give room for more imported vehicles to be discharged at the port. This is part of what the 24-hour port operations are all about,” she stated.
