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FG prepares to introduce new cargo clearance regime, dumps RAR for PAAR

By David Abellegah on December 28, 2012

A new cargo clearance regime will soon be unveiled at Nigerian seaports, boarders, as well as airports.

The Federal government, which has concluded all arrangements for the regime, calls it pre arrival assessment report (PAAR) to replace the already existing risk assessment report (RAR).

The risk assessment report (RAR) is regulated by three service providers authorised by the government some three years in the past.

The risk assessment report (RAR) service providers signed a contract with the federal government on the destination inspection (DI) scheme, which is to expire by the end of this year.

The service providers are; Global Scan Limited, Destination Inspection Limited and SGS Nigeria Scanning Limited.

The idea to terminate the contract with the three service providers and put together a new clearance regime was disclosed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi, in Lagos during a stakeholders meeting.

Dikko was accompanied by a fleet of Deputy Comptroller Generals (DCGs), Assistant Comptroller-Generals (ACGs).

Dikko maintained that the introduction of PAAR next year will be “a once-and-for-all document for clearing of goods in the ports.The clearance will not be subject to any contest or validation as it will have the supreme authority” he said.

The Comptroller-General promised to organise workshops and carry out sensitization exercises so that no one will be left out. He urged customers not to be troubled, promising that everything will be made easy and simple to comprehend.

Adding, he said the training that would be done through workshops will be intensive, productive, and mandatory for all customs licensed agents on evaluation, classification, and clearing procedures.

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