'We're Ready for Destination Inspection'
By Bukola Akande
Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited has reaffairmed its readiness for the take-off of the planned Destination Inspection of imports once government gives a go-ahead on the project.
Speaking to newsmen, the Head of Nigerian Operation for the company, Mr. Dermot Gennings said that the company has ordered for two more scanners from France to add to the two that arrived the country early this year.
Gennings explained that the shipment of the machines has been delayed to enable government reach a decision on the commencement date of DI so that the equipment will not be idle on arrival in the country.
"Such equipment are better when they are in use not stationary. Once we get a go-ahead, all machines will be brought here. Right now, the machines are in the factories", Gennings said.
On some allegations against the company, particularly about the suspension of its activities in Venezuela and Togo as well as the company not being registered before bidding for the scanning machine contract in Nigeria , Gennings said that the policy of the company was not to join issues with those he described as either detractors or competitors.
"Reacting to allegations is distraction. Take for instance, the allegation that we are not registered. This is not true", he said.
However, he made it clear that Cotecna Inspection Limited was duly registered at the Island of Guersey in May 1998, while Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited, Nigeria, was registered in September 2003.
He gave the reigstration numbers as No.33973 and 493664 respectively.
On the Togo contract, he explained that since the signing of the seven year contract, the company has been on testing period, adding that negotiation is still on with the government as to when to start charging for services.
On the allegation that the company did not comply with the terms of contract in Venezuela and failed to submit valid or sufficient argument for this, Gennings who denied this attributed the problem to a system failure.
According to him, Cotecna sent the monthly report, a monthly summary but that investigation showed that "several viruses and internet worms" disrupted the communication of the report, "resulting in the incorrect assumption being made that the report had been received, whereas it simply got lost".
He said that the diagnosis was made under oath by one of the most reputed experts in the field of computer in South America.
He added that while the contract allows transmission 36 hours after issuance, Cotecna has an average of less than 30 minutes.
The company was suspended for three months as a result of the allegation.
Cotecna early last year won $70 million contract to supply scanning machines for the implementation of Destination Inspection, a development which is believed to have angered some stakeholders.
In recent time, its operations worldwide have been under close watch by interested parties, who the company believes were out to run it down because of the destination inspection contract in Nigeria.
Government had set up a Committee in December to look into the scheme, the report of which has been submitted.
It is expected that very soon, government may make its decision known on the issue.
Already, Cotecna confirmed that government has called its management for discussion, but Gennings refused to disclose the extent to which this has progressed.
Speculations are rife that two other firms may join Cotecna in the new inspection regime.
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