DI: Global Scan Takes over from Cotecna at LPC

Global Scan is now in charge of destination inspections at the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Seme Border Station, Idiroko Border Station, and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The federal ministry of Finance had penultimate week informed the service providers, namely: CDIL, SGS and Global Scan, that, while it would retain their services for another six months after the June 30 expiration date and that it would rejig the lots allocated to them.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that while CDIL lost the LPC, it retained charge over Tin-Can Island Port, Banki Border Station in Kano State and Jibya Border Station in Katsina State.

Under the new arrangement, SGS, which was in charge of the scanners at Idiroko, Port-Harcourt Airport, Port-Harcourt Port, Onne and Idiroko Border Station, did not suffer too much loss, as it is now in charge of Calabar Port, Onne Federal Lighter Terminal, Onne Federal Ocean Terminal, PTML, Port-Harcourt Airport and Port-Harcourt Port.

While the finance ministry did not give reasons for rejigging the lots, widespread opinions are that the exercise was in compliance with a ‘directive from above’.

Before the new six months extension; the initial seven-year contact, which elapsed on December 31, 2012, had been extended by six months to June 30, 2013.

One of the terms of the contract was provision, operation and maintenance of the hi-tec scanners used to scan goods at the seaports, airports and land border stations.

The service providers were also required to train Customs personnel in operating and maintaining the machines at their exit.