The Comptroller, Customs Area Command (CAC) Tincan Island Port, Apapa, Comptroller Abdullahi Musa, has debunked insinuations that the Service is deliberately delaying the deployment of Scanners, procured since November 2021.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Uche Ejesieme, who disclosed this in an exclusive chat with Newsshelve, said the Area Comptroller wishes to disabuse the minds of Nigerians from insinuations that the apparent delay in installation and deployment of the scanners is a deliberate action.
“When the Scanners arrived the country initially, the customs area Comptrollers and other officers had to go and inspect them and this took some time.
“The truth is that it also took quite a while to convey the Scanners to some of the major seaports across the country because of the nature of the equipment which are technically designed to specifications.” He explained.
Ejesieme said there was the need to take out time to train and restrain personnel to properly handle the new equipment.
In his words: “The officers who were initially trained on the use of the Scanners had to also train other officers who are going to manage the equipment.
“It just doesn’t stop there, there has to be further training and retraining to create proficiency on what to expect and how to handle the new technology.
“A team from the headquarters, led by D.C Ekpenyong who is in charge of Scanners, came for synchronization of the equipment into a single platform and having achieved that, what is now left is final deployment of the Scanners.
“The officers who have been well trained are ready and eager to commence work and the stage is now set for the the deployment of the new equipment hopefully by February this year.
“There’s no doubt that the Scanners will help improve efficiency at the ports as cargo turnaround time will reduce drastically. It will also help the Service to generate more revenue.
The Area Comptroller asked Nigerians to have faith in the Service and be rest assured that the Command will deploy the new equipment in the best interest of Nigerians and the country at large.
Comment here