The newly appointed Acting Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has introduced three innovative projects in the NCS.
This was revealed in a statement sent to journalists by the national public relations officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada.
CG Adeniyi’s appointment was announced on Monday, 19 June 2023, while he was attending the Policy Commission and Council meetings of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in Brussels, Belgium.
Leveraging on the global platform, Maiwada revealed that the Acting CG engaged in topical discussions within the international Customs community, advocating for exploring AI-driven solutions to resolve challenges.
He said the new Acting CG would introduce;
- A GEOINT unit
The geospatial data, mapping techniques, and satellite imagery to gain valuable insights for customs operations. He said collaborative engagements are already underway to operationalise the use of GEOINT to enhance the efficiency of NCS enforcement operations and contribute to overall efficiency.
- Plans to establish NCS Laboratory
According to Maiwada, the move is a significant milestone in enhancing Customs operations and trade facilitation across Nigeria. He added that the NCS laboratory is expected to provide comprehensive solutions to address challenges such as counterfeit goods, smuggling, and non-compliant imports, thereby bolstering revenue generation and ensuring public health and safety protection.
- Plans to conduct a time-release study
According to the NCS spokesman, Acting CG Adeniyi will focus on crucial areas such as completing a Time Release Study while implementing the Authorized Economic Operator program, leadership, and management development. He said the Acting CG is already in talks with experts to adopt innovative solutions across various Customs domains, ultimately enhancing the NCS operations.