By Godwin Oritse
THE President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA Mr Lucky Amiwero said that the proposed Single Window Technologies  for easy clearance of cargoes at the  ports was a fraud against the nation’s economy.

In a statement, Amiwero stated the Presidential Task Force on Customs had proposed a modified and more transparent Single Window goods clearance procedure in its recommendation to government.

He noted that the  process leading to the award of the contract, the Federal Ministry of Finance may have failed to convince legislators, the business community and concerned public that it meant well for the country in the way and manner it sealed a deal with a company that possess close to zero expertise in basic information technology.

“Even emphasis on the company commencing the job at no cost to government was not convincing enough especially when users of the service  are to be invoiced of a fee calculated on 0.65% FOB (Free on Board) Value on Imports, Transit, and Export calcutated on a monthly basis and 0.045% FOB value for Import, Transits and Export for Oil and Gas.

The non inclusion of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) and Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in the award process completely invalidates the award as there was no Presidential waiver to warrant the non competitive, secret and fiat-like award of contract.

Another twist unveiled was that the company started interfacing with government at the Presidential and ministerial levels even before it was formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). A ‘no objection ‘certificate was also not issued by BPP to the company, in line with its Act 2007” he added.

It would be recalled that effort by Mr. Danladi Kifasi, Permanent Secretary of the finance ministry to convince lawmakers that the IT deal which seeks to have an over bearing influence on the Nigeria Customs Service, was packaged for national interest failed.

The Chairman of the House of Representative Ad-hoc Committee probing the contract Sir Leo Ogor faulted the Kifasi’s  concept of national interest and using security reasons to justify the non transparent procedure of the contract award

“Why are you beating round the bush? When we make a mistake, we should accept it. Don’t try to cover up here because any attempt to cover for one mistake will lead to further mistakes” Ogor told Kifasi.