One week after, Customs e-auction portal frustrating, configured to fail—Bidders
Technology is the best strategy to grow modern business and every sector of the economy and society is keying in to technological innovations.
However, when technology is hurriedly adopted without the prerequisite foundation and build up, it end up in disruptions and frustrations.
Some Nigerians interested in participating in the Nigeria Customs e-auction to purchase seized vehicles are complaining of difficulty in accessing the platform.
Since last week Monday, when the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) inaugurated and flagged off its new e-portal designed to drive the e-option of auctioning seized goods, there have been several complains trailing the poor functionality of the scheme.
Prospective bidders who relived their experiences on Friday and over the weekend complained that the e-portal had not been opening for registration since Monday, July 3 when it was inaugurated by Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali.
At the launch penultimate Monday in Abuja, Ali said that the e-auction platform was aimed at giving all Nigerians equal opportunities to partake in bidding for seized vehicles and to increase Customs’ revenue.
The first shot of frustration was however fired when at the end of the first day, the Public Relations Office of Customs, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah, said no fewer than 43 people including a journalist had won the bidding for vehicles in the first 48 hours after the launching.
The question that worried thousands of bidders was why only 43 out of several thousands who bidded.
Apart from frustrative momentary hanging of the portal, several bidders complained that whereas they were able to register and access the e-wallet, they were unable to bid and complete the transactions.
Others say whenever they tried to bid, the server would go off, showing instructions like “not found,” “refresh’’ and “try again”.
One of the victims said “I don’t know why it was so difficult for me to bid, so l later called my friend to find out if he was able to bid, but he told me he has not (been) able to access the portal let alone registering”.
“I think I was able to access the e-wallet because I am banking with Jaiz Bank,” Suleiman said.
Throughout last week, it was only the link via Jaiz Bank that worked to some extent.
Suleiman frowned at the idea of using only a bank with limited branches considering the population of the country.
Eight out of 10 victims contacted said whenever they attempt to log in to register for the bidding, the portal kept on saying “not found” instruction.
New Agency of Nigeria had reported that a public servant, Florence Wukoma said that when she tried to register using the Tax Identification Number (TIN) on the platform, it refused to accept it.
She said “Whenever I tried using my TIN, it kept showing instructions like `incorrect TIN’, `TIN not found’ or `use email address’.
“I think the portal is having technical issues and needs to be attended to urgently so that people can register,” Wokuma said.
Another banker, Justina Aleburu, said that the portal was not just designed to work.
“I have tried it severally, yet I can’t access the portal let alone registering,” she said.
Other victims also averred that even though they were able to register after trying severally, they were unable to access the e-wallet.
Even mid last week, Customs image maker, Joseph Attah admitted that there were technical issues on the e-auction platform.
To many Nigerians, If the Customs Service is not ready to start this auction, why is it making
Attah added however that “Every batch has 48 hours, the first 48 hours elapsed at noon on Wednesday July 5, and the system completely locks out everybody, automatically sends mails to the winners.
“That is why some bidders are beginning to experience problems and by Monday July 10, the system will open again for new set of bidders,’’ he said.
On designated banks, Attah said that for now, it was only Jaiz bank that was on the platform because other designated banks were having Interswitch issues.
“These other banks will soon be on board as soon as they rectify the issues,” he said.
The Customs image maker begged potential bidders to be patient and make use of the bank available on the platform for now until other banks are able come on board.
Many bidders whose e-wallet and bidding process went soar last week told Business Hilights over the weekend that they may be compelled to forward petition to the EFCC this week.
