Customs will be ready for scanning functions of D/I – SGS boss

By Godfrey Bivbere

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will be ready to perform the scanning function of the destination inspection scheme at the end of the agreement between the federal government and the service providers, the Managing Director of SGS Scanning Nigeria Limited, Mr Nigel Balchin , has said.

Balchin who disclosed this at the closing ceremony for 18 set of customs officers trained by the company under the NCS Secondment Programme at the SGS Price Verification & Classification Unit in Lagos.

The federal government contracted three service providers at the beginning of the scheme to provide scanning machines at the nation’s seaports and border stations on a Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) bases at the end of the contract scheduled for 2013.

The SGS boss who stressed that they are committed to the January 2013 handover date, also noted that the “on-the-job” training attended by fifteen middle level customs officers, is in line with the understanding reached with Management of NCS to prepare a transition team that will provided by SGS under DI, including the operation of scanning machines.

He stated that management of Customs at the end of the year is expected to review the training conducted by SGS and other DI service providers in the last few years.

While congratulating the participants on the successful completion of the training programme, the SGS boss enjoined them to put what they have learnt to good use for the benefit of the Service and the Nigerian economy at large.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Superintendent of Customs D.H. Mafwalal, described the training exercise as very enriching. “When we came here eight weeks ago, we were virtually empty.

But today, I can proudly say that we are fully loaded. We thank Management of Nigeria Customs Service for giving us the opportunity to be part of this training programme. Our appreciation goes to our trainers for exposing us to the best as far as modern customs administration is concerned and to the company SGS for its very high standards.”