By Godfrey Bivbere

House of Representatives Committee on Customs has slammed Web Fontaine, which powers the Automated System of Customs Data (ASYCUDA), over inadequate provision of infrastructure at the sea port.

The House also commended the management of Cotecna Destination Nigeria Limited and Global Scansystems Ltd for the provision of scanning machines in line with the agreement they entered into with the federal government.

Making this known in Lagos during their visit to ascertain the readiness of the Nigeria Customs Service to take over the Destination Inspection (DI) scheme, Chairman of the committee, Nakudu Sabo, lamented the level of investment by the company.

Nakudu frowned at the problem of interconnectivity which came up in virtually all the Customs command they visited in Lagos. He said the volume of investment by the firm in Apapa is very poor compared to the $6 million it collects from government.

According to him, “I keep hearing Web Fontaine everywhere I go. Just look at what you have here, very few computers, one scanner, dilapidated air-conditioners etc, and you collect $6 million from government every month whereas the whole investment here is not even up to N2 million,” said Nakudu at the ASYCUDA office in Apapa area one command of the Nigeria Customs Service.

He said he was also happy with the facilities which Cotecna had put in place at the scanning points at both Apapa port and the Tin-Can Island ports.

While assuring that they did not embark of the tour to castigate or blame anyone, the lawmaker, however, said the committee would look into the advice of the Global Scansystems Limited on the qualification of officers to be trained abroad.

He urged Global Scansystems to speed up the installation of the fixed scanning equipment, adding that the committee would be back in the next three months to check the progress of the work.

He suggested that customs should work with Global Scansystems in the course of installation of the fixed scanner within the three months.

Nakudu said the committee was keen in keeping itself abreast of all activities concerning the Destination Inspection scheme.

Fred Udechukwu, Managing Director of Global Scansystems said he was happy with the visit of the committee members.

“The scanners were installed in 2006 and ever since, we have not recorded any downtime. We have maintained and stocked spare parts for all our scanners.

“We have always said we are ready for collaboration with the Federal Government and the Nigeria Customs Service to ensure that the laudable project (Destination Inspection) is executed and handed over ultimately to the customs.

“Most of the customs officers trained by us in all our locations had won the Comptroller-General of Customs Award as the Best Scanning Officers, Udechukwu said.

He, however, mentioned that “for both mobile and fixed scanners, customs officers need proper exposure and technical training inline with the proposal he had sent to the government several times so that those qualified customs officers could be trained abroad”.