The African Finance Corporation has expressed the readiness to invest $450 million in the automation of the operations of the Nigerian Customs for its turnaround within twelve months.
Managing Director of Bionica Technologies W.A Ltd , Umar Kuta made the revelation before the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Finance, Customs and Public Petitions Co-chaired by James Faleke, Yusuf Kila and Jerry Alagbaoso respectively. The joint Committee is looking into the modernization of the Nigerian Customs projects.
Kuta assumed that the platform would improve revenue generation by the Nigerian Customs and enhance security at the nation’s borders .
According to him, “a complete automation of the activities of the NCS within twelve months, will boost revenue and eliminate all forms of sharp practices in the system.
Recall that the e-custom Strategic Plan, began in 2016, 94 companies responded to a bid request by the Nigerian Customs, fifteen companies were pre-qualified and all were invited to make presentations on their solutions to enable Nigeria realise its vision of attaining complete automation and enthroning best practices in Customs operations.
The Managing Director said, Bionica Technologies W.A. Limited emerged tops after the evaluation process by Nigerian Customs.
According to the document made available to journalists after his meeting with the Committee, Kuta said that firm has five technical partners, namely Paramout Group, Huawei Technology, Smiths Detection, Larsen & Toubro Group and Nuctech of China.
The partners, he stated, are mobilising about $ 450 million in investment to attain the complete turn-around programme.
He told the Committee that the Africa Finance Corporation, has also indicated its interest in supporting the Customs automation programme.
The Company Chief Executive stated that the consortium is to partner Nigerian Custom Service by direct capital investment in collaboration with Original Equipment Manufactures to develop and implement specific modernization programs, with full automation of all the NCS business processes and procedures through the development and implementation of a robust and secured ICT platform.
He said this entails complete systems integration with the current ICT platform, adding that the partnership will engender development and implementation of modern customs border stations, airports and marine posts, adding that the marine posts would be utilized to develop the marine customs outfit.
According to him, Bionica’s direct capital investment through the proposed ppp, guarantees that NCS modernization program will be professionally executed.
Kuta added that the implementation of Bionica’s proposed projects, will ensure that all collectable revenues will be optimised and accounted for in-line with the Treasury Single Account policy of the Federal Government.
Earlier, the Joint-committee headed Faleke, had asked the Nigerian Custom Service to provide details on the proposed e-Customs project and the cost implication to government.
James Kwen, Abuja
