NCIS,’92, Tin can Embarks On Sensitization Campaigns

B y Stephen Ubanna

Baba Musa M.A., Comptroller, Tin-can Island Command may have learnt from the mistakes of officials of Kirikiri Lighter Terminal ,phase 1, in the implementation of the Customs Integrated Information Systems, NCIS,92. The implementation of the NCIS 92 at the KLT had been described  by Industry Operators as a failure as both the Customs Operatives and the stakeholders were completely at a loss on how to go about the  new Customs ICT. Many described it as a failure as the Command witnessed revenue loss in much of 2017.

Many had attributed the failure to lack of proper sensitization Campaigns on the part of the management to prepare the mind of the senior offices and the stakeholders about the deployment of the software to the Command operations.

As a prelude to avoiding  the short comings of KLT  in the implementation of the CIS 92 in the Command , Baba Musa  was said to have met with various  segment of officers and men of the Command to prepare their mind  about the new Customs Information Communication Systems II  and to get their reactions.

A source told the Magazine that  the Implementation team from the Customs Headquarters, Abuja, with the support of the  Command Information Communication Technology , ICT, personnel  to retrain the officers and men of the Command  on the CIS 92.

Aware that the Command cannot achieve the desired success in the implementation of the Scheme without   properly training the stakeholders, particularly the  agents, who operate  within the lager chain  fully  embrace the new application  which is faster , more efficient  and all en-compassing  in cargo clearance.

The essense of the retraining program me for  officers and men of Command including the stakeholders, according to a source was because  the NCIS 92 software  is about to be deployed  into the operation of the Command.  It is expected that  with the retraining program me stakeholders will be made to  imbibe  the culture  of total  and will compliance  with the government Fiscal Policy measures  for the economic growth and development  of the country.

The Tin can Island Customs boss is optimistic that  by the software  become operational in the Command, ”’all areas of revenue loopholes  exploited  by importers with their agents to shortchange the government would have been blocked and thus  increasing  the Command  monthly revenue profile and compliance level.

Uche Ejesieme, a Deputy Superintendent of Customs and public Relations  officer of the Command  confirmed  that the CIS 92, Implementation team on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, ”commenced  the sensitization  program me for senior officers of the Command   in preparation  for the deployment  of the  CIS92  in Tin can Island port. The Senior officers  refresher training  program me was said to have been quickly followed by that of the stakeholders on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.

At  the CIS 92 stakeholder workshop, Baba Musa was said to have  admonished the participants  to be  meticulous  in their conduct  as the platform  has been configured  in  such a way  that excuses  for contravention of government Fiscal Policy measures  would not be tolerated.

Given an insider information,  the Comptroller was said to have informed the stakeholders that  the  software  will go with the biometrics  which will  ensure that  violation of acceptable standards  are  traced and tracked .

It would be recalled that  the Tin can Island Customs boss from the onset made himself  clear about his policy direction  on trade facilitation. and how to make the port a hub in Nigeria and transit port for the land locked Niger Republic and Chad bound cargoes. Going by the studies conducted by  the Nigeria Shippers Council, NSC, on the instruction of Hassan Bello, the Council  Executive Secretary, delay in the release of cargoes from Nigeria ports  leading to high cost of clearing cargoes at the nation’s seaports may have facilitated the dumping of Nigeria ports  by these land locked countries to the ports of Cotonou in Republic of Benin and other ports in the West African sub-region.

He may have been encouraged  to introduce the  trade facilitation tool, dubbed ”Time Release Studies”. This innovation, the Tin can Island Customs boss had said  is meant to ”monitor the flow of  declarations  from the point of lodgment to capture,  examination  and release  with a view to denying the gaps in trade value chain”.

Officers and stakeholders who spoke to the Magazine  applauded  the Tin can Island Customs boss for following the footsteps of his predecessor, Yusuf Bashar, now Comptroller , Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, PAAR, at the Customs  Headquarters to prepare the ground for the take off of the higher NCIS 92 in the Command. They were optimistic that  the Customs platform would improve the level compliance at the port.

They could not hide their feeling over the time release  studies , which they described as a step in the right direction that would  expose  where the delay in the release of cargoes at the port is coming from either from the shipping Companies , terminal operators , Customs Operatives or agents. the stakeholders are optimistic that report of the studies would go a long way in assisting the Comptroller to fashion out  measures that could facilitate timely release of cargoes at the port  to reduce the cost of clearing and attract more customers to the port including economic operators of the land locked countries.