Customs Area Controller, Tin Can Island Customs, Comptroller Abdullahi Buba Musa

Strong Indications emerged that the Tin Can Island command of the Nigeria Customs Service has allegedly suspended the Fast Track on cargo clearance model and replaced it with its own ‘cash and carry’ system, which places most consignments on queue.

Introduced sometime in 2006 under the Destination Inspection DI regime, the Fast Track cargo clearing system is a mechanism whereby consignments belonging to big companies, especially the multinationals, which have over the years demonstrated honesty and integrity in their declarations.

Under this system, such consignments are usually given express clearance passage, which allows the cargo owner to take delivery of the cargo, which are usually raw materials with unbroken seal and inspected at the warehouse of the owners in order to enhance efficiency in cargo delivery and also stem congestion.

Sources close to some of the multinational firms, hinted that the operatives at the Tin Can Customs have allegedly jettisoned the Fast Track system and illegally introduced the queue system, whereby cargo owners are expected to part with some money before the consignment is allowed to go.

According to the sources, many of the firms, who allegedly refused to give kickbacks would have their consignments unduly delayed, which defeats the essence of the Fast Track, which is designed to speed up the process of cargo release and rid the port terminals of cargo build up.

It was further gathered that efforts by some members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria MAN to resolve the problem has not yielded the desired results, as many of the officers have continued to delay consignments under one guise or the order while waiting to be ‘settled’.

Business and Transport checks show that top members of MAN not too long ago visited the Customs Area Controller in charge of Tin Can Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Buba Musa to discuss the issue, where the CAC promised to intervene but nothing has changed after the meeting.

“We have resolved not to give money to anybody and more often than not, our consignments are delayed but we are not bothered since we know we must do the right thing always”, one of the sources said.

He blamed the increasing cases of diversion of Nigeria-bound cargo to neighbouring West African countries to such practice, arguing that Nigeria’s dream of becoming a hub port for the West and Central African sub-region would continue to be elusive because of such anti-trade practices.

A value chain expert, who commented on the development, argued that such practices negate Federal Government’s policy on Ease of Doing Business, which seeks to eliminate clogs on the wheel of legitimate trade.

He also regretted that many of such challenges would have been addressed if there are scanners at the seaports, arguing that the current 100per cent physical examination of cargo practiced by Customs was archaic and out of tune with international best practice.

He also noted that the nation’s seaports might not achieve the desired level of efficiency and cost-effectiveness until every segment of the port operations are automated and scanners installed for speedy cargo examination.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Public Relations Officer of the command, Uche Ejesieme, said there was no iota of truth in such claims.

The PRO, who put a phone call across to the Officer in charge of Fast Track, noted that mechanism was running smoothly without any disruption.

“I have just spoken with the O.C Fast Track and he assured me that everything is working fine, so I strongly believe that all these allegations are unfounded”, the PRO also said.