The African Association of Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria has accused the Nigeria Customs Service of sabotaging cargo scanners at the ports.
This was contained in a statement by the National President of the group, Frank Ogunojemite, on Tuesday.
Ogunojemite said that the purchase of new scanners might not solve the problem of scanners getting damaged again at the ports.
He explained that the problem was most likely to recur if no individual or agency was charged with the maintenance of the scanners.
He blamed lack of maintenance culture on the part of the agency handling the scanners for the collapse of the platform.
“Our position in APFFLON is unprejudiced with respect to the issue of non-performing contract after its completion.
“It is important to point out that we are not here to jeopardise, accuse or undermine any individual or organisation involved in this initiative,” he said.
On the way forward, the APFFLON helmsman stated, “The problem confronting Nigeria’s modernisation of cargo examination process has nothing to do with our inability to purchase scanners, but everything to do with poor maintenance culture, lack of transparency and accountability.”
The group had alleged that there were clear possibilities of deliberate sabotage on the part of the NSC and other players who colluded to ensure that the system failed for their selfish reasons.
He queried the rationale behind the contract termination of the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s technicians when it was obvious that the NCS did not have the capacity to maintain the scanners.
Ogunojemite queried the basis on which the customs claimed to have employed other foreign technicians for the maintenance after the manufacturer’s technicians were sacked.
“It is on record that service providers handed over fully functional scanners to the customs and the scanners were all upgraded to the most current system and certified to be in good condition in accordance with their contract with the Nigerian government,” he added.
