By Godfrey Bivbere
As the tenure for the contract for Destination Inspection between the federal government and the Service Providers is due to expire in two years time (2012), the Presidency last week brought together stakeholders in the maritime sector to review the performance.

The stakeholders meeting which was held in Abuja on the 6th of July, 2010 was summoned by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Among issues reviewed by the stakeholders are selectivity of the adequate channel for consignment as it relates to the different lanes of inspection and its effect on revenue loss, valuation (Customs has final opinion) and the need to address issue of oversized trucks at border post and the need to adhere to the normal truck size.

Also addressed are harmonization of Risk Assessment Report (RAR) between the Customs and the Service Providers, enforcement of scanning report by NCS, low level of utilization of scanners at the seaports and that quality should be upgraded to match the scanners at the airport and the need for Customs to perform the function of the lead agency in the port as stipulated by decree 61 of 1999.

In addition to the above, the stakeholders examined the importance of integrated technology platform for Destination Inspection, for government to use its political will to ensure compliance of stakeholders as regard Destination Inspection scheme, the creation of public awareness about changes on procedures of cargo clearance before such charges are implemented and the need for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to speed up the process of provision of form “M” electronically.

One of the stakeholders told Vanguard that all the Service Providers, Societe Deneral de Surveillance (SGS), Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited and Global Scansystem and some duty collecting banks, First Bank, Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa, Guaranty Trust Bank and Diamond Bank all made presentation at the meeting.

After the presentation by each of the Service Providers and the banks, the stakeholders would then analysis their performance and make suggestion on ways to improve.