By Victoria Hanson Nigerian Shippers Council stakeholders, Monday, held a one-day sensitization workshop on the implementation of Advance Cargo Declaration Scheme.
The president of the National Association of Government I Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Dr. Eugene Nweke while explaining the need of the workshop said that it was to enlighten the maritime workers on proper shopping and the management of information with regards to import and export of cargo in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the amount of import of cargo from Cotonou to Nigeria is $450,000, which he said was too cost.
He promised to continue seeking for adequate sensitization from the government, for the well-being of the Council.
Presenting the lecture to the group, the maritime security information provider said that Maritime industry controlled 80% of world trade, yet it was poorly managed in Nigeria, adding that leakages were the major critical problem in the sector.
On the purpose of the establishment of NAGAFF, he disclosed that it was to ensure that sanity is restored to maritime industry.
Speaking further, the workshop lecturer explained that Advance Cargo Declaration Scheme (ACDS) is not a new scheme; rather, it is a basic requirement for compliance of ISPS code requirement which oversees the import and export of shipping in Nigeria.
“Due to lack of accurate information by the maritime stakeholders on the statistics of the movements of cargo in the country, the government therefore sees the need to establish this scheme as a platform to capture illegal shippers.
If any cargo is moved without declaring on this platform, it is illegal” he stressed.
He highlighted two components that qualifies the movements of cargo on the scheme to include Entry Summary Number (ESN)/ Exit Summary Number (ESN) and movement Reference Number (MRN)
The documents required to obtain ENS Number according to him include draft bill of lading/booking documents, original commercial invoice, freight invoice and export declaration.
While stressing that the purpose of these documents was for verification to ensure that the cargoes had passed through the proper channel, the spokesman disclosed that without those documents attached, no movements would be authorized into or outside the country.
He however called on the various Maritime agencies to collaborate with the scheme for the betterment of the sector and therefore promised the government that reliable information would always be disseminated.
