...Clearing Agents Express Skepticisms Over CGC's Provisional Release
Fresh indications have emerged that the Federal Government has extended the contract of service provider; Web Fontaine Limited to manage its internet server under the implementation of its newly developed Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR)
This fact came to the fore last week when the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Area 1 command of the Nigeria Customs Service; Mr Charles Edike visited the secretariat of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Apapa, Lagos.
Edike revealed that the Web Fontain is still working alongside the ICT department of the customs service in order to help manage its server under the new regime.
The CAC who was escorted to the meeting by other top officers of the command cleared that "Web Fontain are our technical partners in the ICT department, they have a contract that has been extended by another eight months, the transition is done on an IT platform, it is not something you wake up in a day and say you have taken over"
"They are still managing our servers, they are still the site engineers of the server" he stated.
However, while commenting on the frequent server breakdown which had resulted in frequent complaints from freight forwarders and importers, Edike cleared that the fault should not be attributed to Web Fontain or the Custom Service.
Even though stakeholders have lamented the demurrage incurred on account of the epileptic servers, Edike said that the server breakdown is a general problem that is also applicable to telecommunication networks.
"It is not about Web Fontain, it is not about customs, it is a general problem which affected our network, it is fluctuating"
"It is only one server being used by the service, Tin Can does not have their own server, and this means that if Tin Can is not connected, definitely Apapa is not connected"
"I am sure it is going to be over within a short period, the server of the network service will be streamlined and this will automatically translate to that of the customs" he assured.
Speaking on the backlog of Risk Assessment Reports (RAR) which according to the customs, had slowed down the implementation of the PAAR, Edike said that freight forwarders had initially failed to take advantage of the provisional clearance issued by the Comptroller General, Dikko Inde Abdullahi.
"We noticed that for the first two days there was a large volume of application, about 317 applications for provisional release were made and they were approved, but surprisingly they did not go and pay", he stated.
"I called the agents to ask why they are not paying even after the CGC has given the window and they expressed fear that if they paid and the PAAR comes out and low value is detected, how will they go back to their importer to ask additional payment", he lamented.
He said that the provisional release provided by the CGC does not guarantee automatic clearance of cargoes, but that it is to transfer the unused RAR and form ‘M' into the custom system for the issuing of a proper CGC; Dikko Abdullahi had reacted by sending six Assistant Comptrollers General to Tin Can port and the Apapa port to address the challenges.
He said that the visit has further assisted the commands to boost their interaction with agents and officers.
Edike also said that the visit has jerked-up the revenue of the command, saying that more freight forwarders are now taking advantage of the provisional release.
http://shippingposition.com.ng/article/paar-fg-extends-contract-service-provider-web-fontaine-eight-months
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