As Reps Committee Slams ETO Call-up As “Electronic Fraud”
Compt Babatunde Olomu
The Apapa Customs Area Controller, Compt Babatunde Olomu has confirmed that a high capacity scanning machine is currently being installed at the shipside of APM Terminals, one of the foreign concessionares at the Apapa Port.
Olomu confirmed this when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, led by its Chairman, Hon Leke Abejide visited the command on Wednesday 9th, April 2025.
While lamenting that the lack of scanning machines was hampering activities of the command, Olomu stressed the need for terminal operators, specifically Eko Support, ENL Terminal and APM Terminals, to upgrade their operating equipment in line with the concession agreement signed with the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“One of the key challenges facing the command is the shortage of scanning machines an essential technological equipment. The lack of scanning machines is hampering the efficiency of cargo inspections, leading to delays in processing shipments.
“Scanning machines play a critical role in non-intrusive inspection, allowing customs officials to quickly detect contraband cargoes and hazardous materials without manually opening the container.
“The absence of these machines results in longer inspection time and this could lead to human error which could also lead to security breaches or passage of un-inspected cargoes.
“Additionally, the shortage of technological equipment would also impact data collection and record keeping. Without advance cargo tracking system and automated inspection tools, the command struggles to efficiently monitor the flow of goods, this can lead to inaccuracies in cargo documentation, making it difficult to enforce regulation and track compliance effectively.
“Though, as we speak, some of these challenges are being addressed, a scanner with the capacity to scan containers coming into the port is currently being installed at the shipside of APM Terminals.” he said
The customs boss also informed the Hon Abejide-led committee that the shortcomings of other government agencies is affecting customs in its operations.
“We wish to urge your committee to kindly interface with some other government agencies regulating terminal operators like Eko Support, ENL and APM Terminals on the need for them to upgrade their operating equipment in line with the concession agreement signed with the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“If properly taken care of, this has a potential of positively impacting the revenue generating capability of the command.
“We also identified the poor management of the electronic call up system which almost caused an industrial crisis but for the timely intervention of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi whom directed that I meet with the leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria on two separate occasions when they were out to shutdown the port.
“Customs modernisation cannot succeed in isolation unless other government agencies move with the tides and upgrade their level of automation” he said
Responding, the House Committee Chairman, Hon Leke Abejide assured that a technical committee is being set up by the lawmakers to beam searchlight on the activities of the mentioned terminal operators, which according to him is not helping Nigeria and the stakeholders working at the port.
“People outside do not understand that most of the delays at the port does not originate from customs, but from terminal operators and shipping lines, they behave like lords.
“We are going to form a technical committee to make sure we look deeply into their activities because it is not helping Nigeria and the stakeholders working at the port.
“The Nigerian stakeholders making use of these facilities are losing money, but these foreigners don’t want to lose a dime, we would tell them we are not animals. We shall invite them to Abuja, and the stakeholders would also be invited to join them” he assured
On challenges confronting the ETO Electronic Call-up System of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hon Abejide described it as an electronic fraud, designed to milk port users.
“Another issue is this Eto Call-up System, it is an electronic fraud whereby people buy the ticket and hoad it, and they would later force you to buy at exorbitant prices, the President would not like to hear this.
“We shall select among our colleagues to handle this anomaly” he said
ADVERTISEMENTS:
