Network Breakdown Leaves Importers, Containers Stranded At Ports

A network breakdown at the Nigerian Customs Service has left many importers, clearing agents and other businessmen at a loss due to their inability to clear their containers at the ports.

The development, according to some of them, has made it difficult to get their containers out of the ports for three days now.

One of the affected businessmen told THE WHISTLER that within the last three days that the network challenge has persisted, no container has been cleared from the ports.

He said that all customs offices across the federation have been affected by the network glitch.

He said, “Customs has no network, they can’t release any container. No network since yesterday. For three days they have not released anything. Agents and businessmen have been crying.”

When contacted, the Deputy National Public Relations Officer, NCS, Timi Bomodi, confirmed the breakdown in network.

He added that the issue is a nationwide challenge that is not entirely peculiar to Customs alone.

He said, “We ve seen fluctuation in network for the last couple of days and I ve confirmed from the ICT people. It’s a nationwide problem and it’s not peculiar to customs.

“They are working on it hopefully we will have full service restored.”

When asked on the timeline that the restoration of services will be done, he replied, “Well they (ICT) said it will be done, it will be soon.”