NCS plans to fortify 3 ports complexes with scanners

By Ikechukwu Megbu, Lekki

Apapa, Tin-Can Island and Onne ports complexes will soon be fortified with scanners to facilitate trade and cargo evacuation.

This was disclosed by the Nigeria Customs Service.

It would be recalled that the service has been engaging in cumbersome 100 per cent cargo examination for some years now due to the breakdown of scanners at the ports. In January this year, the NCS announced that three new scanners have been purchased by the ministry of finance and an additional four to be purchased by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to boost trade facilitation.

The NCS also disclosed that the deployment of the e-Customs components would see to the deployment of 135 modern scanners to enhance border security and boost national trade facilitation.

But, speaking on Monday during the tour of some customs commands in the western zone, the coordinator, Zone A of the service, Modupe Aremu said three scanners were expected to arrive at the seaports in the next two weeks.

According to her, the coming onboard of e-customs will see to the deployment of additional 70 scanners across the various seaports, airports and land borders.

She said, “I am very passionate about scanning and I know that in another two weeks we are expecting three scanners, one for Apapa, Tin-Can and Onne ports. With the coming onboard of e-customs, we are expecting 70 scanners that will be distributed everywhere and very soon, we will have our scanners functioning.”

The Customs boss, however, warned Nigerians to stop consuming foreign parboiled rice saying they are responsible for spike in life threatening diseases in the country.

“Nigerians have to have a rethink and know that not everything imported is good for consumption. Most of the rice smuggled into the country have stayed more than five to 10 years in their silos and has expired before they being brought to Nigeria.

“So, it is not healthy and the outbreak of cancer and all manners of deadly disease are as a result of the consumption of expired rice. We preach that Nigerians should have a change of attitude and begin to patronise made-in-Nigeria rice which is very nutritious.”