The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has rolled out the Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) platform at the Ports and Terminal Multservices Limited (PTML) command.
The Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Modupe Aremu who disclosed this in Lagos when the ANLCA Presidential aspirant, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji and his campaign team paid her a courtesy visit in her office said that the launch which was preceded by training of the licensed customs agents on how the platform works had earlier been rolled out at the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) and would soon be launched in all the commands across the federation.
Aremu noted that the agents initially had problem grappling with the new platform which according to her may not be unconnected with age and other factors on the part of the agents admonishing the agents to embrace the NICIS, understand it and to know how to use it as she stated that without having the password, one could not clear goods at the command.
She said,” PTML is a model port; we rolled out NICIS on the 12th of February and I am sure most of you here were part of the training on the NICIS platform. My facilitator is here, we are at the stage of implementation and we know that agents are coming up on board gradually.
“Initially, it was a bit difficult for some of us, you know with age and everything therein. We have to change, we have to embrace NICIS, we have to understand it, we have to know how to use it because without having the passwords, you cannot clear your goods in PTML.
“So, I know this is just a forum to encourage us once again and announce it because when you talk to some people, they will tell you they don’t know what NICIS is. We have some of them calling from Lokoja, all over customs formations; they don’t know what NICIS is. I think you need to take the message down because your followers need to know what NICIS is.
“NICIS is going to go everywhere very soon, it has been done in KLT and they are just finishing with PTML, it is going to go all over. So, we have to understand it, we have to change, you know it’s a new thing and we have to move with the change”.
While congratulating Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji for his courage to run for the highest office in ANLCA, she prayed that the best man wins the election even as she promised to keep praying for his ambition pledging to support him in any way he could need her support.
Responding, Mr. Nwokeoji harped on the need for the agents to be trained on how NICIS works before its launch so as to enable the agents adapt to the use of the platform.
In his words,” Controller Sir, Madam, it’s a great pleasure disrupting your activities today just for this moment. For this place to be the second command that is hoisting that NICIS, this port must be great but I am really worried and jealous that Onne seaport which is my main port is yet to benefit from it. So, we look forward to having it at Onne.
“And then we will appreciate having this training before rolling out the NICIS, it will help us to really adapt to the platform because when the roll out is already there before the training, It’s like you are now running the train. So, if you can do it, let us all e eager to receive it so that by the time it comes, it will be easy to adapt and it will help us a lot”.
Speaking on his ambition, he informed that having served ANLCA as a Secretary and a two time Chairman of Onne chapter, Zonal Chairman of the eastern zone and presently a member of Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) a member of the subcommittee on the Single Window under the Chairmanship of the Comptroller General of Customs and ANLCA Vice President for almost to eight years now, he felt he had learnt enough to be able to do the job of the National President hence the reason he was presenting himself to his people.
“But we cannot come to a place like this, a customs port without paying this courtesy call to you. So, that’s why we are here, we are seeing that the traffic is something else, you can imagine the environment that you people are working and how you manage to meet the target when trucks cannot come in and when they come in, they cannot go out, when officers resume work late and leave early so that they can easily get home, we know that it’s only God that is keeping you safe and we pray that he continue to keep you.
“We look forward to adding our little value to the relationship we have enjoyed over the period with the customs, we are licensed customs agents, without you licensing us, we not to be seen in the ports, without license, we cannot enter the traders’ zone if we are not licensed. We are talking about password, we can’t get password if we are not licensed.
“So, since you licensed us, we have been working and trying to help you in reaching out to meet your target. I will say we thank you, you made a statement that you will support us, the most important thing I am taking away from here is your prayers”, he added.
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