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Customs Officers Incompetent @ Handling Image Analysis
Officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) are not fully equipped to operate and maintain very complex equipment like scanners which requires a lot of expertise and discipline, according to Global Scansystems Limited, one of the service providers handling the destination inspection scheme.
Mr. Fred Udechukwu, managing director/CEO of Global Scansystems Limited, said this while presenting a paper titled “Destination Inspection: Which way after December 2012” at a one day seminar organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) at the International Maritime Press Centre (IMPC) in Apapa, Lagos.
Udechukwu, who was represented by Mr. Ogbogu Kenneth, the company’s operations manager, stated that there is “a serious skill gap in the Nigeria Customs Service” hence hindering its ability to take over the scanners at the end of this year when the seven years contract between the Federal Government and the three service providers namely Cotecna, Global Scansystems and SGS will terminate.
“The officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service trained to take over from us are not fully equipped to operate and maintain very complex equipment like the scanners which requires a lot of expertise and discipline. This has serious health implications as uncontrolled x-ray dosages can be emitted into the atmosphere. Also the maintenance of these scanners are programmed and planned to prevent breakdown and its huge financial implications.
“There is a serious skill gap in the Nigeria Customs Service until recently they did not show sufficient interest in the DI scheme and training. This will have to be addressed and adequate training given to them both within and outside the country before we can comfortably hand over to the service”, he said.
Udechukwu also said that Form M which is a major transaction document is not yet in electronic form/setting claiming that it will take some time to harmonise the e-form M document in the process.
The Global Scansystems boss also lamented what he called the gross under-utilization of all scanners which he said is below five per cent.
He said that cessation of the DI contract with service providers will lead to job loss disclosing that no fewer than 200 Nigerians currently employed by his company will lose their jobs.
He asked the Federal Government to extend the contract of the service providers for the success of the destination inspection scheme.
Earlier in his address, Mr. Bolaji Akinola, president, Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN), said that the seminar was organised by MARAN as part of the association’s contribution in engendering healthy debate and discussion on critical issues in the maritime industry.
Akinola said that cargo dwell time at Nigerian ports is the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. He said only a simplification of processes and procedures as well as automation at the ports can drive down the cargo dwell time.
“I must say that cargo dwell time which stands at an average of 24 days at Nigerian ports remain the highest in Sub-Sahara Africa. The implication of high dwell time of cargo is increased cost of doing business at the ports.
“Corruption and bureaucratic bottlenecks are still preponderant in Nigerian ports and are the major reasons for the high cost of doing business at the ports. There is the need therefore to simplify processes associated with cargo clearance. We also need to increase automation of our processes in order to reduce human contacts. Importantly too, there is the need to advise government, using this platform on the option that will work best after 31st December, 2012. We need to come up with a practical option can drive dwell time down to an average of seven days”, Akinola stated.
Akinola said before January 2006, the determination of value as well as quantity of imports into the country had been done at the port of origin of the imports by Pre-shipment Inspection Agents (PIAs) namely Swede Control/Intertek, Cotecna and SGS while the Nigeria Customs Service performed 100 per cent physical examination of imports at destination – a perceived duplication of function of the pre-shipment agents.
The MARAN President added that: “The pre-shipment inspection scheme was criticized by various interest groups for several discrepancies which included false declaration, under-declaration and under-valuation of imports in what was described as a scam allegedly master-minded by some of the PIAs and some unscrupulous importers.
The pre-shipment inspection scheme thus became undesirable based on the foregoing which necessitated the re-introduction of destination inspection. To provide facilities and equipment to achieve the destination inspection objectives, three of the former PIAs were contracted by the Federal Government. The three PIAs are Cotecna, SGS and Global Scan.
The service providers signed separate seven year contracts with the Federal Government to provide mobile and fixed scanners for implementation of the destination inspection scheme on Build-Own-Operate-and-Transfer (BOOT) basis.
The seven-year contracts will end by 31st December this year and port users are curious to know if the Federal Government has mapped out strategies for effective manning, utilization and maintenance of the scanners installed by the three service providers. Or is government making arrangements to retain the services of some of the scanning companies to ensure that DI is not jeopardized?”
The seminar which was chaired by Otunba Kunle Folarin, chairman, Port Consultation Council (PCC), was attended by several stakeholders and port users including service providers, customs agents, importers, customs and truck operators.
Commercial banks in Nigeria closed 2.021 million bank accounts in the first quarter of 2024, Q1’24, to clean their books of questionable accounts and comply with regulatory orders on the linkage of bank accounts to the National Identity Number (NIN).
This is contained in a report by the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), which also indicated that the number of inactive bank accounts grew month-on-month, MoM, by four million or 2.0 per cent to 19.7 million in March 2024 from 19.3 million in the previous month, February.
A bank account is classified inactive when it records zero transactions including deposits, withdrawals, transfers or point-of-sale transactions for six months.
However, details of the “Industry Bank Account Database”, a monthly data reported by banks, and compiled by the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS, also indicated that the number of active bank accounts grew by 6.62 million or 3.0 per cent to 219.64 million from 213.02 million in February.
Recall that in December 2023, the CBN issued a directive to all commercial banks in the country to restrict tier-1 accounts without proper Biometric Verification Number (BVN), and National Identity Number, NIN, that are not linked by Thursday, March 1st, 2024.
According to NIBSS data on BVN enrollment count, 61.6 million Nigerians have BVN as of April 2024.
Credit: Vanguard
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Dubai-Based Citizenship Firm Imperial Citizenship Expands to Lagos, Targets Africa’s Growing Wealth
Imperial Citizenship, a Dubai-based firm specialising in Citizenship and Residency by Investment (CRBI) solutions, has set its sights on Africa’s burgeoning wealth with the launch of a new office in Lagos, Nigeria.
This strategic move positions Imperial Citizenship to capitalise on the continent’s growing population of high net worth individuals (HNWIs) seeking international investment and mobility options.
Imperial Citizenship boasts a proven track record of success, having secured over 2,000 approvals for clients seeking alternative citizenship and residency pathways. Their partnerships with over 15 governments worldwide provide a diverse portfolio of investment opportunities that adhere to strict international regulations.
With its Lagos launch, Imperial Citizenship begins its foray into Africa. The continent boasts a burgeoning HNWI population, according to PwC, presenting a lucrative market for investment firms like Imperial Citizenship.
According to the World Bank, African economies are projected to grow by 3.4 % in 2024 as the African Development Bank Africa has reported that Africa will account for eleven of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies in 2024. Highlighting the market’s potential, Mr. Zaid Al Hindi, Founder and CEO of Imperial Citizenship, says, “our expansion into Lagos allows us to directly cater to this affluent segment, offering them strategic solutions for global asset diversification, optimised investment opportunities, and enhanced global mobility.”
“At Imperial Citizenship, we do not operate through intermediaries, as we differentiate ourselves through direct government partnerships. This ensures transparency, legality, and efficiency throughout the application process, providing peace of mind for investment-minded clients” Zaid stated during the launch event in Lagos.
Speaking on the company’s approach to CRBI, Zaid mentioned, “At Imperial Citizenship, we prioritise a client-centric approach. We go beyond simply offering programs; we provide dedicated advisors who understand the unique needs and aspirations of each client. This personalised service ensures clients receive tailored investment options that align with their financial goals and risk tolerance”.
The launch of the Lagos office underscores Imperial Citizenship’s commitment to global expansion. With physical offices in Dubai and now Nigeria as well as operational representatives in Mexico, Algeria, and Turkey, Imperial Citizenship demonstrates its ability to cater to a geographically diverse clientele.
Looking ahead, Zaid highlighted that Imperial Citizenship plans to broaden its service offerings and expand its reach into new markets. By strategically targeting Africa’s rising wealth, Imperial Citizenship is well-positioned to solidify its role as a leading player in the CRBI industry, offering investors a gateway to global opportunities.
In a recent gathering, organized by 234Finance, key stakeholders and HNIs came together to discuss the theme “Fueling Progress in the South East.”
The conversation highlighted the rich heritage, entrepreneurial spirit, opportunities for growth and the potential of the South East to be economic powerhouse.
During the discussion, the Managing Partner of 234Finance, Ezinne Nwazulu unveiled plans for an upcoming event of significant impact: the 4-week intensive SME Bootcamp and Mentor Matchup Challenge South East edition designed to empower SMEs. The program aims to empower SMEs with the knowledge, tools, and capital for rapid expansion and global competitiveness.
This initiative is building on the success of previous Mentor Matchup Challenge events, which equipped SMEs with actionable strategies and one-on-one mentorship, resulting in winners of the pitching competition securing grant funding to scale their businesses by 4x-10x.
The SME Bootcamp will feature an array of activities, including physical and virtual training sessions, onsite industrial training, and a pitching competition.
Ezinne Nwazulu emphasized the rigorous selection process, where the top 100 applicants meeting the criteria will undergo intensive training at two training centres in Abia and Anambra. From there, the most promising 15 participants will have the opportunity to pitch their business for grant funding.
Dr Chima Anyaso, Chairman of Caades Group, expressed his commitment to the region’s development and encouraged entrepreneurs with innovative crafts to seize this opportunity.
Criteria for selection are uncompromising, emphasizing technical expertise in core sectors; Agribusiness, Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Logistics, Fashion & Textile, and Retail, with a particular focus on businesses operating within the South-East region for at least three years and significant growth potential of 4x-10x.
The Bootcamp is set to commence from May 14 to June 14 2024 with Southeast-based entrepreneurs encouraged to visit the 234finance bootcamp to apply.
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