Customs automates licenses, permits processes to boost revenue, curb fraudulent practices

The Nigeria Customs Service has launched the automation of licenses and permits processes for imports and exports operation in a move to address challenges of inefficiency, bottlenecks and fraud associated with manual process.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement on the automation of licenses and permits process for customs agents, freight forwarders, bonded terminal operators, ship chandllers and manufacturers as well as Customs officers in Lagos on Monday,, Zonal Coordinator in Charge of Zone A’ Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Muhammed Bababdede said the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi approved the new system in response to the long-standing need to make Customs processes faster, more transparent, and easier for stakeholders.

He said the new automated system when implemented will address the challenges of paperworks, long queues, and the uncertainty that comes with manual processing.

According to him, with the new system stakeholders need not travel to Customs command or headquarters to apply for or renew their license permit as the process can be completed from the comfort of their office.

“For many years, stakeholders have
had to deal with paperwork, long queues, and the uncertainty that comes with manual processing. Those days are coming to an end, ” he said.

Babandede said the sensitisation exercise will be held across all Customs’ zones: to make sure that every stakeholder understands the new automated system before it is implemented.

“For stakeholders, automation means that you will no longer have to go to a Customs office simply to apply for or renew a licence or permit. You will be able to do this from your office or even from your phone.

“It means your applications will be processed faster. It means you will be able to track the status of your application in real time. And it means that the process will be the same for everyone — fair, consistent, and without the risk of error that comes with manual records.

“For the Service, automation means better record keeping, easier supervision, and the ability to serve more sakeholders at once without increasing the burden on our officers, ” he said.

In her welcome address, Comptroller of Customs, License and Permit Unit, Tariff and Trade department, Ngozika Anozie said the automated system will bring about ease of doing business in the maritime sector and boost revenue generation for the Service and the government.

She added that the new system will save time and minimize fraudulent practices in the system, as every single document that is uploaded will be automatically rejected by default if it is fake and accepted if it is genuine.

“Automation will cut the cost of doing business and minimize movement risks for our stakeholders. They would no longer be jumping on buses or flights to and fro Customs Headquarters-Abuja, paying hotel bills plus feeding for days, to obtain or renew their licenses and permits.

“License and Permit can now view assessments through the B’Odogwu to be sure that any company applying for fresh or renewal of licences or permits is not having unpaid assessments hanging on it. The CGC is poised to sanitize the system and we, at License & Permit Unit are very passionate about this, to ensure that the objective is achieved.

“Our stakeholders will now have the luxury of using the time they would have expended running from one Command to the other or to Customs headquarters Abuja, to achieve other equally useful objectives in their business value chain that would impact the growth and expansion of their businesses.

“Ultimately, this automation will enhance the statutory revenue generation duties of the Nigeria Customs Service, because fees are paid into the coffers of government with every single licence and permit processed; imports are made with the permits, the clearing processes are stamped with the licences given and obviously, revenue is generated. So, the more licences and permit we issue or renew, the more revenue we would generate for NCS and Nigeria economy, ” she said.

Reacting to the development, Vice President, Association of Nigerian License Customs Agents ( ANLCA) Prince Seguin Oduntan lauded the initiative by Customs but called for transparency to make the process seamless.

“Why do we need to travel to Abuja to renew our license in this age? So we welcome the development and we will do our part to embrace the new system. However, the Service should ensure there is transparency, there should be sincerity of purpose. If there is no reason to call someone to Abuja, the Customs should let it go. With that it means an agent can renew his license within 48hours., ” he said.

Prince Oduntan also advised agents to ensure they verify their documents before they are uploaded to avoid unnecessary delays.

Other stakeholders present at the event include the National Secretary of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Fwdr Godfrey Nwosu, and Chairman of Customs Consultative Committee (CCC) Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju, among others.