The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, has announced a significant initiative to enhance trade facilitation by installing advanced scanners at the nation’s seaports.
Adeniyi revealed this ambitious plan during a dinner held for diplomats, including representatives from the British High Commission, the United States, Germany, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, and the World Bank, at the NCS headquarters in Abuja recently.
In his address to the diplomats, Adeniyi highlighted the NCS’s unwavering commitment to integrating cutting-edge technological solutions into its operations.
He emphasised the need for extensive stakeholder engagement, especially following the enactment of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
He said: “Now that we have a new government, we have a lot of explanations to make to all the stakeholders. We have a responsibility to carry out massive sensitisation on the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.”
Adeniyi underscored the Act’s provisions for automation processes, the adoption of a single window and authorised economy operators’ system, advanced ruling implementation, and amplified use of scanners, all aimed at modernising customs procedures.
Addressing concerns about wildlife smuggling, Adeniyi assured the diplomats of the NCS’s determination to combat illicit wildlife trade in Nigeria.
He stressed the imperative for collaborative efforts among stakeholders, emphasising the pivotal role of international cooperation in customs activities.
In response, the diplomats commended the dedication of the Nigeria Customs Service and pledged enhanced collaboration to combat wildlife trafficking and other associated criminal activities.
The dinner, attended by members of the Customs’ management team, served as a pivotal platform fostering mutual understanding and collaboration between the NCS and international community representatives.
