Renowned shipping tycoon and ex-President of the Association of National Licensed and Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tony Nwabunike, has issued a stark warning against the $3.2 billion Customs modernization initiative, asserting that it could exacerbate Nigeria’s economic woes and shackle citizens in a two-decade repayment ordeal.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Sun, Nwabunike decried the lack of essential infrastructure, insufficient investment in port-related technology, and rampant corruption within Nigeria’s ports. He expressed concern that if Customs, Immigration, and other agencies follow suit by securing massive loans, it would essentially mortgage the nation’s future.
Nwabunike questioned the rationale behind a $3.2 billion loan for Customs modernization, especially for a heavily indebted country like Nigeria. He emphasized that the previous modernization efforts were already underway before the current proposal, suggesting that upgrading existing technology would be more prudent.
He pointed out that the Federal Government had a robust Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) in operation, indicating no valid reason to discard it. Nwabunike argued that the $3.2 billion project could worsen Nigeria’s economic prospects over the next two decades, considering the volatile nature of global oil prices on which the nation heavily relies.
Regarding the port infrastructure, Nwabunike questioned why the government couldn’t allocate funds to fix the revenue-generating ports that yield substantial daily income. He highlighted the substantial daily revenue from Apapa port alone, suggesting there’s no justification for neglecting the infrastructure.
Nwabunike pointedly stated that there was no need for loans or tax breaks to repair the port access roads. He criticized the deplorable condition of roads linking Nigerian ports to cities like Apapa, Onne, Calabar, and Warri. He underscored that, despite acknowledging the state of the Apapa port access road over two decades ago, the government has failed to address the issue, indicating a lack of genuine commitment to sustaining these crucial national assets.
Nwabunike also drew attention to the advancements made by the Port of Tema in Ghana, which has already implemented access control technology. He lamented Nigeria’s lag in this regard and implied that governmental priorities seemed focused on revenue extraction rather than nurturing vital economic resources.