SON system failure:
A malfunction on the server of Nigeria’s apex standardization body, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria has reportedly cost the port industry N84billion in the past 14 days. The loss was attributed to the failure to link importers to the Nigerian Customs server for the clearance of goods and products.
For two weeks, importers have been trying to upload their SON Conformity Assessment Programme code into the system to get their Pre-Arrival Assessment Report out without success.
An SON spokesperson explained that some importers started experiencing difficulties migrating to the new system after a system upgrade was done.
Preliminary findings show that most applications used by government organisations were not developed for Nigeria and the processes were not domesticated either.
Nelson Demilade, a software developer explained that from time to time, if customs systems break down and they could not get hold of the developer, the problem would defy solution.
The Vice-President of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, Dr Kayode Farinto, has issued a threat to sue SON to court if the situation is not resolved in 24 hours.
Farinto lamented that in the last two weeks, it had become quite challenging for members of the organisation to get their PAAR. He further explained that they had been paying huge demurrage for a problem that was not their fault.
He called on the Nigeria Customs Service as the lead agency at the port to rise to the challenge and proffer solution to the challenge or else, importers and clearing agents would not hesitate to go to court.
He complained that investors were losing billions of Naira and there was a need for the government to declare a force majeure, adding that agents could not continue to pay demurrages for SON’s errors.
Arguing that SON regulated cargo was about 35 percent, he said the failure in its system had constituted an impediment to cargo clearing.
He also suggested that the Customs should allow clearing agents to clear regulated cargo and later send their officers to the consignees’ warehouses for further appraisals.