VREG Server Breakdown: Five Star Terminal Raises Alarm Over RoRo Vessel Delays

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Coming on the heels of several complaints from importers and customs licensed agents about the attendant demurrages accrued due to breakdown in the operations of the National Vehicle Registry (VREG) at Tin Can Port, Five Star Logistics Terminal has confirmed this, adding that ships are now being delayed for several days due to VREG failures.

Five Star Logistics Terminal is one of the biggest Roll-On Roll-Off vehicles at the Tin Can Island Port of Lagos.

Recall that the Vice President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Dr Kayode Farinto had first raised the alarm on Friday that clearing agents have been unable to generate the VREG in the last three weeks due to server failures.

The Agents also lamented that despite the introduction of the VIN Valuation by the Nigeria Customs Service for easy verification of Customs duty, payable on vehicles at ports; operatives of the Customs still subject importers and freight agents to manual valuation processes.

VREG was introduced in 2021 by the Ministry of Transportation in order to have data of all vehicles coming into the country.

Reacting to this with DAILY TREND NEWS, Mr Chuks Okereafor, Customer Care Manager of the Five Star Logistics Terminal at Tin Can Port confirmed that the VREG impedes trade and needs review.

He said “Customs can generate same VIN numbers from PAAR and upload same for VREG for their usage.

“I have witnessed where VREG delayed vessel for 4 days. Once you capture 500 cars VIN numbers and during upload to get custom assessment, any error will not be easily traced and delay custom documentation and consequently delay receivers from taking direct delivery from roro vessel .

“VREG personnels do not show capacity and to understand the consequences of their delays” he said