Delays noticeable during cargo clearance at the ports have been blamed on improper declarations by the importers.
The Customs Area Controller of the Ports and Terminals Multiservices Limited (PTML), Comptroller Modupe Adeyanju Aremu who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos said if importers could make correct declarations, their goods would exit the ports within a space of six hours.
According to her,” There is no delay whatsoever caused by customs, most of the delays are actually caused by our importers who declare improperly. When you declarations are correct, within six hours, your goods are released. It is only when you have infractions that you have to go back to your bank to pay your DN. That is what causes the delays.
“So, if our importers can make an honest and sincere declaration, there won’t be any delay whatsoever on the part of the customs. PTML is very organized, our officers are always on ground, by 8 o’clock my officers are on ground and PTML is mostly a car port and you know with cars, it is very fast. Once you have ex-factory price and you pay what you are supposed to pay, we don’t have any reason to delay you. So, in six hours, you can actually get your car our of PTML”.
On the 24hours port operation, she hinted that the exercise was actually starting from Apapa ports adding that Apapa command presently was working on a shift system to ensure officers were always on ground to meet the 24 hours clearance process.
She however posited that she don’t envisage amy hiccup on the part of the customs as far as 24 hours port operation was concerned saying,” We are one hundred percent ready”.
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