Customs inaugurate Fast Track System to enhance PAAR at destination

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has inaugurated a Fast Track Scheme to enhance the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) system of its Destination Inspection (DI).

The NCS Public Relations Officer, Mr Wale Adeniyi, disclosed the development in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

The statement said that the Fast Track Scheme was inaugurated by the Comptroller-General of NCS, Mr Dikko Abdullahi.

According to the statement, the new Fast Track concession platform is created in the enhanced Pre-Arrival Assessment System.

It said the new scheme would enable the PAAR system to accord special recognition to the final documents belonging to the beneficiary companies after being uploaded by the dealer banks.

It added that once the verified documents hit the customs system, an automatic system check would be activated which on completion would generate the PAAR without recourse to the “Officers of the Ruling Centre’’.

“The declaration is instantly routed to the Green Lane and the process completed within few minutes.

“Such importers can immediately take delivery of their cargo, while customs will conduct routine Post Clearance Audit of their books.’’

According to the statement, customs has admitted 114 companies into the Fast Track Scheme to encourage compliance in the conduct of international trade in Nigeria.

It quoted Abdullahi as giving approval to the companies to encourage compliance in the conduct of international trade in Nigeria.

“We have observed over time that these companies have exhibited high level of diligence in their documentation, honesty in their declarations and integrity in dealing with customs,” it said.

It noted that the beneficiaries admitted into the scheme included local manufacturing companies, multinationals, automobile companies, telecom operators and supermarket retail outlets.

The statement said the list would be reviewed periodically subject to the performance of the importers on the compliance scale.

“Beneficiary companies will be published in the national dailies to enable Nigerians know those who are doing it right.

“We believe publishing it will challenge those listed not to engage in acts that will compromise their status, while putting pressure on those that have yet to make the list,” it said. (NAN)