Modernisation: Customs Train, Engage Officers, Stakeholders On Transire Process

BY FUNMI ALUKO

In keeping with its ongoing modernisation drive, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Monday, took yet another bold step as the ICT Department organized a training session for customs area controllers (CACs) and senior resident operation officers in Automated Transire Process; a subset of the modernization programme.

The training which took place at the conference room of the Apapa Customs Area Command was presided over by the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of ICT, DCG Kikelomo Adeola who explained the processes involved in cargo bond and transire process, from the terminal through various intermediate checks for compliance and validation; up until approval of the bond, its exit from the port until it arrives at its designated location. 

According to Adeola, the bond processes follows the cargo owners application to move the items, which obligates him to submit the application for documentation processes, which includes User Acceptance Test (UAT), release of the bond, provision for escort and tracking on transit.

The application platform which is opened for stakeholders to commence the process can be accepted or rejected, depending on the accuracy of the information and data fed into the system and if rejected for obvious gap, the applicant is allowed to make corrections until the right process is achieved leading to the release of the Transire Number that allows the cargo to proceed on bond.

DCG Adeola who was represented by ACG Z. Jaji, said the Automated Transire Process is designed to position the service in the forefront of trade facilitation and efficiency. According to Jaji, the automation process will ensure the tracking of cargo from mother ports to bonder terminals and thus enhancing faster access to goods, transparency; and designed to reduce cargo diversion and the elimination of uncertainties.

Speaking, Jaji said, “Stakeholders collaboration is paramount like all of you here now, bonded warehouse owners, importers, freight forwarders, logistics providers etc, so your insights, input, feedback is essential.

AC Abbah, 3rd from right, AC Abubakar Usman, 2nd from right, and a member of the technical team during the training/engagement of officers and stakeholders at Apapa Command on Monday

“In fact we look forward to your feedback, we want you to share your concerns and perspectives as these will help us in achieving a robust online application system. Together let’s embrace this exercise as we look forward to its full deployment because we are confident the process will improve revenue generation through better monitoring.

“We are aligning with global best practices through continuous dialogue and feedback which we hope will help us to continue to upgrade the process until it becomes near perfect.”

Also speaking, the Coordinator of Zone A, ACG Charles Obih noted that the system is primarily structured to improve operational efficiency in the supply chain, which according to him will foster more trust, promote enhanced trade facilitation online, real time.

The ICT Project Team led by AC Usman Abbah gave a guided instruction on how the online transaction works, plus explaining every link involved in the transaction; even as he responded to issues raised by officers and stakeholders.

Present at the training engagement are the CACs of Apapa, Tin-Can, PTML, KLT,  Ogun 1 and WMC. According to Usman, the process was designed to function 24/7, as the automated nature of the system allows for continuous cargo processing without manual intervention.

Responding to questions relating to the difference between validation and approval, he explained that while validation is an integral aspect of the overall check system; approval epitomizes the final authority akin to a ‘clearing house’ that drives the entire process to conclusion.

He further simplified validation and approval as being extra layer of monitoring and verification essential to preventing documentation and factual errors, unauthorized transfers, or potential abuses of the system.

Abba also demonstrated how the tracking system operates, showing how Customs officers and stakeholders can monitor the movement of shipments from the point of departure to the final terminal through the system dashboard.

According to the training facilitators, the Automated Transire Process is an essential loop of the B’Odogwu platform; all of which were designed and been run in-house without any external support.

The NCS urged stakeholders to take full advantage of the sensitization and training ahead of the full deployment of the modernization windows.