ICTN IMPLEMENTATION: SHIPPERS COUNCIL SAYS THE ORGANIZATION IS READY

 

 

***As Customs Speaks On Legal Empowerment, Customs Readiness To Collaborate With the Implementation Agency 

By Ambrose Obioma Okehi (News Emperor)

The Nigerian Shipers' Council, NSC has assured the maritime stakeholders that they are 100 percent ready for the implementation of the much-talked-about International Cargo Tracking Note, ICTN and also has the capacity to implement it as its implementing agency following nation's reintroduction of ICTN the third time. 

This was as the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS on its own has informed the participants that there is already a legal backing as enacted by Section 28 of Customs Act 2023. 

The customs categorically said that there is a legal process which empowers the implementation of ICTN, insisting further that the above same Section 28 of the Nigeria Customs Act 2023 as amended has given the needed empowerment for the  council to carry on with much contentious cargo tracking note once it takes off.

These were the views of  government agencies and other stakeholders present at Roundtable organised by the members of Maritime Reporters Association of  Nigeria, MARAN on Thursday February 27,2025 at the popular MARAN's International Press Centre Lagos was crucial for governments to work on. 

This was shown from the commitment and determination of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to drive the implementation of the at the first, second and this re- introduced time of International Cargo Tracking Note(ICTN). 

The shippers Council also got nod of the critical stakeholders in the maritime industry as the implementing agency, while also asking others to rallied round the agency for smooth implementation.

The Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN's) roundtable of Thursday, February 27th, 2025 saw the Nigeria Customs Service, Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN),  the  Shippers Association of Lagos state (SALS) and Sea Empowerment Research Centre (SEREC)and other private sector operators like the likes of Alhaji (Dr. ) Segun Musa, the Managing Director, Widescope International Logistics Limited and Mr. Lucky Amiwero of the National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Licensed Agents, NCMDLCA and numerous others coming together to critically look at the issue. 

Speaking at the well attended roundtable the Comptroller- General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR declared that the implementation of the  ICTN will facilitate trade, enhance trade, will create seemless cargo tracking regime, will reduce daily time. The ACG assured the participants that many maritime nations are already practicing ICTN. 

The CG who was represented at the e event by the Zonal Co- Ordinator of Zone A of the Nigeria customs service, Assistant Comptroller- General (ACG) OC Orbih noted that the reintroduction of ICTN is an opportunity to transform Nigeria’s maritime operations and enhance the country’s competitiveness in global trade.

According to the Customs Chief, the controversial concept, which is being opposed by a pocket of stakeholders, will enhance the security of the country.

ACG Orbih talked about the country's pockets of insecurity issues, adding that the country at the moment is under siege of arms and drug dealers, who he said on daily basis flood the country with these illicit items.

Speaking about an enhanced intelligence gathering, the ACG said :

“The system(ICTN) significantly enhances security and risk management by providing information in advance about cargo, enabling better threat assessment and targeted inspections.

” This enhanced security framework has proven effective in reducing cargo loss and theft in countries that have implemented the system.

“Additionally, the International Cargo Tracking Note will facilitate trade and improve ease of doing business in our ports.

“The system enables pre-arrival processing of cargo information, significantly reducing documentation processing time.

“Furthermore, International Cargo Tracking Note reintroduced by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, offers concrete solutions to long-standing challenges in our ports.

While responding to questions the Customs chief however said all stakeholders should rally behind the Nigerian Shippers Council to drive this important project for the benefit of the country, assuring further that they are ready to collaborate with the council in driving the project. 

Specifically, he noted that the concept has proved a huge success at most African, European nations like South American Countries such as Ghana ,Kenya , Turkey and Brazil , thus appealing for the cooperation of all stakeholders in the country to allow the system to work.

The ACG therefore noted that the service will collaborate with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to ensure the implementation of the electronic tracking system succeeds.

The ACG allayed the fears of cost implications of the concept, saying the benefits derivable from it such as reduction in cargo dwell time and enhanced operational efficiency at the ports far outweigh the cost.

He also added:

“Let us work together to implement International Cargo Tracking Note in a way that serves our national interests while facilitating international trade” the Customs chief pleaded.

On his own, Dr Ibrahim Mohmuod Mubarak, the representative of the President of Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) said the concept is good one and must be supported. 

He assured the participants that the importers are for the ICTN.

Dr. Mubarak took time to explain most of the confusing sides of the ICTN, saying he agreed with the Nigeria Customs Service as they had cleared all the grey areas about the legal backing. 

The Shippers’ Council beyond giving assurance of their readiness to drive the project,also cleared the air on some areas where people expressed fears. 

” The IMAN position is that we want this ICTN but at no cost to an average importer who is an ordinary businessman in Nigeria,”

Dr Mubarak told the participants. 

Another maritime expert who has been championing for a come back of the project, Dr Eugene Nweke, a former National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the current Director of Research, Sea Empowerment Research Center, (SEREC), on his own believed that the implementation of ICTN will add tremendous value to the Nigerian ports system.

Chief Nweke used the opportunity offered him at the roundtabke to appealed to all stakeholders, especially those who are opposing  the project, have a rethink, shealth their swords and work for the success of the concept.

The Executive Secretary of the Council, Pius Akutah who was represented at the MARAN's event by Celestine C. Akujobi, the Director of Consumer Affairs Department of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council said the ICTN is a trade facilitation tool which will further enhance the efficiency of the Port.

Mr. Celestine Akujobi said he was the one who drove the project at the council before it was suspended. 

He noted that if it was a bad idea as alleged by some stakeholders, those other countries in Africa, Europe and South America such as Ghana, Kenya ,Turkey and Brazil would not have keyed into it. 

Giving the Council's assurance of being capable to drive the project, 

” Shippers’ Council is ready to go ahead with the implementation of the system” he declared.

He noted that the pocket of opposition was not surprising as people often oppose new system.

The NSC Director Consumer's Affairs equally appealed for the support from all the stakeholders to ensure the success of the electronic tracking system.

On the opposing side of the concept at the roundtable were the duo of Lucky Ayis Amiwero, the President of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) and Dr Segun Musa, the Deputy National President of NAGAFF. 

For Amiwero, he was of the opinion that the concept was not tied to service and that there is no law backing it. But that was immediately cleared by the Customs. 

In his own, Dr. Segun Musa, he believed that the concept was a duplication of Customs functions and that it was not tied to a service.