By Sandra ChukwunyereThe Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), says the planned introduction of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN), will not lead to duplication of charges at the port.
The Executive Secretary NSC, Mr Pius Akutah, said this at the Maritime Association of Nigeria (MARAN) roundtable to discuss the controversies surrounding the implementation ICTN, on Thursday in Lagos.
According to Akutah, represented by Mr Celestine Akujobi, Director of Consumer Affairs, NSC, right from the conception stage, shippers council or the Federal Government did not just wake up to implement the ICTN.
“There were a lot of consultation made. It’s just that the council is the lead agency.
“It implemented the ICTN with customs, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Central Bank of Nigeria and other government agencies.
“If it were to be a duplicatuon, it would have been at that point that customs would have said no, it cannot fly because its against what they are doing, because top on the committee was the customs,” he said .
He pointed out that this had to do with government and do not think the Federal Government would be working against the interest of its citizens.
Akutah noted that if the project was not a trade facilitation tool, government would not come up with it, emphasising that cargo tracking note was a trade facilitation tool.
“In US, it came up under the name, Advanced Information System (ACIS) in the EU, it is alsopracticed,” he said.
On the issue of cost, he noted that initially when ICTN was introduced, shippers council kicked against increasing cost, adding that if shippers are tasked some amount of money, it would add to the cost of doing business in the system.
“As at that time, even some countries in the West and Central Africa were collecting about $100, you can confirm, but in Nigeria shippers council then, we made it to be $10/20.
“Actually if one goes deep into advanced information system or even the cargo tracking note, you find out that when a service is rendered, there will be an element of cost but the question is the level of the cost.
“Is it something that will add to the cost of doing business or is it so minimal that it can be absolved and that is where we are looking at?
“There is misinformation here that the cargo tracking note is a generating exercise, it is not. That is not the essence of the note, let us be guided.
“We cannot because it is what government introduced and we put on boxing gloves and start attacking it,” he said.
Also, Dr Eugene Nweke of the Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC), noted that the ICTN would achieve reasonable trade compliance at the port.
“Cargo tracking note will ensure accuracy in container content, introduce checks and balances, have capacity to change the horrors in our trading system and equally ensure safety and security,” he said.
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Mr Lucky Amiwero, President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) decried the planned introduction of the ICTN, adding that ICTN was not tied to service or backed by law.
According to Amiwero, ICTN cannot be useful in the port because its not backed by law, adding that it will obstruct clearance of goods.
He pointed out they are looking at three things concerning the implementation of ICTN by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), the law, service and the implementation of the process.
“As an expert, I have served in 168 government committee, nine presidential and customs reform committee and I have stand in shippers council committee more than close to 30 of them and I was a sub committee chairman.
“When cargo tracking note was introduced the first, second and third time, we stopped it. Cargo tracking note is not a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development thing, it is a regional thing that has to do with Central and West Africa subregion.
“Its not a convention, it is just a rule for people to look at freight cost. When it was implemented, I was a member of customs reform committee and we stopped it. We stopped it because I asked them to do one thing, tie ICTN to service.
“When we talk about revenue, one, you cannot operate a system without a law, Nigeria Shippers Council does not have an electronic device of application internationally. NSC law is concerned for shippers interest,” he said.
Earlier, In his welcome speech, Mr Godfrey Bivbere, MARAN President, described the ICTN as not just a concept or idea but a transformative automated system that had the potential to revolutionise the way cargo entering the country are monitored.
“Through the ICTN, we can determine the type and volume of cargo imported into our seaports within specific time frames.
“Beyond the ability to collect and track cargo information, this system has the capacity to generate billions of naira in revenue for the Nigerian government, particularly in revenue areas currently being missed at our borders.
“Unfortunately, the journey toward implementing this scheme has been fraught with challenges and delays,” he said .
Bivbere said that the controversies surrounding the ICTN are not without merit as importers and clearing agents had raised concerns about duplications of charges.
“They have pointed out that their cargos are already being tracked by the Nigerian Customs Service from origin to destination, and therefore, adding a second layer of tracking via the ICTN creates unnecessary costs.
“As we move to reintroduce the ICTN, it is critical that we approach it with a fresh perspective and an understanding of the lessons learned from the past.
“We must ensure that there is no duplication of efforts, that transparency is prioritised, and that the concerns of all stakeholders are heard and addressed,” he said.
