Nigeria Customs On Track To Rank Among World Best with E-Customs

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says that it has made technological provisions that sets it on the track to become one of the top ranking customs service globally.

This was disclosed by the Acting Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of ICT/ Modernisation, Aliyu Galadima Saidu, in Abuja.

Saidu said that the ongoing modernisation project by the service would integrate all of the application processes of the customs service.

He said that this is part of the reformation of the service which is "a key component" in a global modernisation move.

Saidu said,  “E-Customs is an integration of Customs application processes, platform, hardwares involving all-in-one nationwide import, export, excise and office management under one digital platform. 

“In addition to this, it is a solution  to facilitate processes of licensing clearance, cargo management, revenue collection and payment. 

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“The automation of Customs procedures has been a key component in Customs reform and modernisation globally. It is not only peculiar to developing nations and this initiatives and support across the globe has been facilitated and emphasised by international donor organisations like World Trade Organisation, World Customs Organisation and other organizations globally.

“The impacts are enormous. Number one, it is going to facilitate international trade. It is going to block all the loopholes and leakages in revenue generation and the end result is going to enhance our revenue collection. It is going to enhance border security. 

“We are going to have a robust platform of sharing information. It is going to enhance the capacity of Customs officers and men and the clearance procedure is going to be shorten . This will provide us with best technology to support the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

“It will also strengthen trade facilitation has being advocated by the  World Customs Organisation. It is going to enhance professionalism and specialization in Nigeria Customs Service.

“In the process, our entire border stations, seaports and airports  are going to be fitted with scanners. I mean  the model hi-tech scanners which will facilitate clearance of goods and passengers and the end result also will be less human contacts and easy detection of concealing methods by smugglers.

“This project is not a concession. Let me break it down - we are inviting experts, people are bringing their money to enhance our capacity to give us this technology. 

“The whole process will be driven by Customs. A typical example is that  each scanning site will enhance our capacity then the image analyses will be done by Customs.  I don’t see any concession here. All our platforms will be run by Customs and that is why one of the key component of this project is enhancement of our capacity . They are going to give us a robust training. 

“We have been clamouring for this for long we want to be among the top class Customs administration in the world and since the Federal Executive Council approved this project, our CGC has been receiving calls from member nations of Customs under World Customs Organisation congratulating him because is a Customs project initiated by Customs and is going to be driven by Customs.”