FG rejects offer to repair port scanners with N753m
There are indications that five malfunctioning scanners in Apapa ports have been abandoned as the federal government rejects a NN 753 million offer to repair them.
The event, the Vanguard Maritime Report has learned, comes amid a government decision to purchase 300 new scanners worth CHF 688.6 billion, which was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC.
As a result, the National Council of Heads of Authorized Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, petitioned President Muhammud Bukhari for this decision.
The petition, signed by NCMDLCA Chairman Lucky Ameviro, revealed that the government was provided with three main levels of improvement for the five scanning devices: Upgrade, Upgrade, and Upgrade.
The petition says that Smith Detection’s consultants are recommending the upgrade, that they were vital upgrades needed to get the system back to “as delivered.” Ameviro provided the following breakdown of the estimated cost of repairs: at Apapa port (76,152 euros), mobile scanners at the Idiroko border (200,052 euros), stationary scanners at the Seme border (Euro-E326.518.00), mobile scanners at Warri port (Euro – E663.645.00) and mobile scanners in the Apapa port (Euro-E407.123.00).
According to the petition, Smith Detection, the scanner manufacturers, was tasked with re-evaluating the scanners to find out their current status, investigate the root cause of the crash, and, if possible, negotiate a public-private partnership, PPP, to preserve them.
Thus, the petition urged the federal government not to waste alarmist resources on purchasing new scanners. They are asking the government to retest the scanners to determine the conditions.
He said: The Council has called for a reassessment of the scanners to check the current status and to update the scanners in accordance with the Smith Detection manufacturers’ recommendations. “Investigate the root cause of scanner failure and, if possible, develop a public-private partnership agreement to preserve the scanners.” Alternatively, the federal government should issue a 1% FOB portion for scanner maintenance and repair. ” …
Source: – Vanguard
