‘$3.1bn e-Customs to boost transparency, productivity’

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said the e-Customs scheme worth $3.1 billion would entrench transparency and boost productivity when it is fully activated.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Joseph Attah, said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved it to revolutionise trade facilitation.

The e-Customs had generated controversies among stakeholders in the Maritime sector but Attah said it will ensure end-to-end automation of customs processes, improve on national security, and save business time in transactions and revenue generation.

The project is proposed on a concession agreement of 20 years under Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model, and would cost $3.1 billion.

Attah said the project is not a concession but would eradicate tax and import duties’ evasion, which would boost revenue generation with the interplay of the Unified Customs Management System, e-Port, Logistic Monitoring, and ElectronicCargo Tracking.

“The project will also feature Mobile Enforcement Systems, which all imports and exports would go through to be undertaken by Messrs E. Customs HC Project Limited, and is expected to run for 20 years.”

The project is to be driven by a consortium of four companies: Bionica Technologies W.A. Limited, chosen as the preferred bidder after a rigorous evaluation process, he noted.