Firm attributes NCS server downtime fibre cuts

Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) ICT service provider, Webb Fontaine Nigeria Limited, has explained how it resolved the server downtime glitches that slowed down few transactions with Customs.

Managing Director of the company, Ope Babalola, in a statement, stated that his company deployed engineers to work around the clock in finding a solution to the challenge.

Recall the ports operators had groaned over Customs’ recurring server downtime, claiming they spend N200 billion on demurrage at the port.
Babalola who identified that the problem was caused by cut in fibre optic cable at the Abuja end of its third party service providers, reassured members of the trading public using the NCS portal of the company’s unwavering commitment in ensuring excellent service delivery.

While describing the issue as temporary service disruptions, Babalola added that his company remains committed to helping government achieve its goals of increase in revenue and trade facilitation.

He also disclosed that Webb Fontaine has contributed to human capital development through capacity building of customs officers.

“At Webb Fontaine Nigeria, we are looking to offer the best end user experience and to maximise the service availability in a very challenging telecommunications environment. The recent interruptions were caused by factors beyond the control of Webb Fontaine Nigeria or its telecommunications partners.

Nevertheless, by working around the clock with our telecom partners, we were able to isolate and resolve these issues thus reducing the service interruption to a minimum,” he said.

He said while the firm is yet to conclude if this was due to some deliberate vandalism or other causes, it has deployed its team of engineers to ensure that every cause for a future breakdown is eliminated.

He said importing agents can now go to the portal for trade actors to process all the required documentation, from e-Form M – the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and NCS’ online mandatory documentation process – to the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) system of the NCS, and finally clearing their consignments.