Group recognises Cotecna as best destination inspection service provider

Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has honoured Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited (CDIL), one the three destination inspection service providers, for providing outstanding and efficient service during its seven-year contract with the Federal Government to manage the DI scheme for Customs in some selected ports and border stations.

According to the group, Cotecna was top among the service providers that delivered outstanding services ranging from issuing of risk assessment report on advisory basis, valuation and classification of goods, training and capacity building for Customs officers, provision of scanning equipment such as mobile and fixed scanners, scanning services and reporting to coordination with the relevant agencies as provided in their contract agreement.

The award of excellence, which was received by Ernest Woka, deputy managing director, Cotecna, was conferred on CDIL at the gala night held in Lagos to mark the end of the week-long 25th anniversary celebration of the association. The theme of the event was ‘MARAN @ 25: Vehicle for Sustainable Economic Transformation’.

Speaking on the sidelines shortly after presenting the award, Bolaji Akinola, MARAN president, said that there was no doubt that the company distinguished itself in keeping with the terms of the contract with the Federal Government and even surpassing same in some areas.  He recalled that apart from installing and operating world-class scanners at its appointed lots across the seaports in Apapa and Tin Can ports, Abuja and Kano airports, and Jibiya and Banki border posts, the company accordingly carried out risk management and inspection activities on all goods imported into Nigeria.

“Though the DI contract required CDIL to train about 350 officers and 50 stakeholders, the company went further to train about 2,000 officers to handle scanning operations so as to boost smooth trade facilitation and revenue for government, especially now that Customs has taken over the DI operations from service providers,” he noted.

Akinola further appealed to Customs to utilise effectively the resources and investments made by service providers in training skilled and certified officers by engaging them to serve in their areas of specialisation.

By: Uzoamaka Anagor