After the initial refusal of commercial banks to embrace the Customs e-auction platform which had caused hiccups and confusion in the exercise, nineteen of them have now linked up with the Nigeria Customs Service E-auction platform, a development which has triggered an increase in popular participation of six thousand five hundred and sixty people out of which two hundred and fifty four winners emerged in the latest auction exercise.
A statement from the Customs headquarters in Abuja signed by National Public Relations Officer (PRO) Joseph Attah, DC, noted with optimism that with the participation of nineteen commercial banks, bidders now have the advantage of checking in into the nearest banks to participate in the E-auction programme.
Attah said that challenges posed by fraudulent bidders have been tackled and the field is now transparent for all prospective bidders.
He explained “NCS has already taken steps to deal with the challenges posed by fraudulent bidders who log in to frustrate other genuine bidders by placing bogus and unrealistic figures. In some cases, they send SMS to supposed winners congratulating them. Apart from de-activating the Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) of these elements, the option for second highest bidder to win when the highest winner fails to pay has been jettisoned.
‘’ In such situation, the item reverts to the system for fresh bidding. Winners are informed only through e-mails from the system not by SMS.
‘’While the system is being re-programmed to automatically reject such criminal antics, all fraudulent bidders are advised to keep off the NCS e-auction platform and allow interested Nigerians to reap the benefits of this transparent system that presents equal opportunity to
all.”, Attah declared.
It would be recalled that the initial two electronic bidding exercises were greatly marred by irregularities and frustrations by bidders due to the non-challant attitude of the banks who shunned the process, leaving only Jaiz bank on the platform.
It took the intervention of the Comptroller- General of Customs, Col.(rtd.) Hameed Ali, who appealed to the banks at a meeting where the Chief Executive Officers of these banks revealed their challenges which the CGC promised to address to facilitate their participation in the e- bidding process.