Nugeria attempts an image makeover

The Nigerian Customs
Service (NCS) has
embarked on an
information and charm
offensive designed, in
its words, to convince
shippers that “operating
processes and procedures
have become almost
seamless to the point
where clearing of goods
from various ports
is no longer the
nightmare it used
to be”.
A lengthy
media
release
from the
agency
attributes
the “amazing
transformation
of the NCS” to the
comptroller-general
of the service, Abdullahi
Dikko.
According to the report,
frustrations suffered
by shippers and visitors
“were caused mainly by
the corrupt activities of
some officers and men
of the Nigerian Customs
who connived with some
equally unscrupulous
licensed customs agents
to f leece them at every
point”.
It says corruption
has been rooted out
through a modernisation
programme.
In addition, a Pre-
Arrival Assessment
Report (PAAR)
introduced to
facilitate the
clearing of
goods
within
four
hours
has
helped
eliminate
corruption
associated with
human contact
points and delays which
resulted in demurrage costs.
According to the report,
the World Customs
Organisation has
recommended that other
countries in the process of
modernising their customs
procedure implement the
PAAR system.