Customs CG aims for Senate Backing to Improve Automation and Enhance Trade Facilitation, Revenue Generation.

Kathy Kyari

In order to fulfill its fundamental requirements and improve trade facilitation as well as revenue collection, the Nigeria Customs Service has asked the National Assembly Senate Committee on Customs to step in and provide new instruments for the full automation of its operations.

At the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday, Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi made this request.

He stressed that the Customs Service's dedication to promoting economic expansion, job creation, active trade connections, and revenue production is demonstrated by this call.

“Not only introducing them but also standardizing them to enhance Customs' clearance processes, revenue generation, which will be a better experience for both Customs administration and stakeholders.” He emphasized

The CGC recounted how the Nigeria Customs Service began the automation process in the late 1990s when it made purchases of contemporary devices, such as computers and software, as part of the Service's endeavors to implement computerization procedures.

Adeniyi went on to outline some of the goals of the Nigeria Customs Service's demand to automate its processes when talking about the concession issue.

“The first major objective of the consortium was to provide an end-to-end ICT platform to digitalize procedures and processes. The second one is to look at the present infrastructure and update it in line with international standards, ranking amongst the best in the world.” He noted.

“The last part is the general organization of our infrastructure to provide the tools needed that will be associated with these objectives, deliverables, and part of deliverables first is to build a Unified Customs Management System.”

“The system needs to process the traditions of goods that will provide electronic party systems for the Service whereby its entire processes would be automated.”

“The conditions of the non-intrusive inspection system include provisions, revisions of cargo tracking systems, intelligent gates, new infrastructure, like a data center to build the capacity of officers because it is essential in the last phase of the project.”

Speaking on behalf of the Service's strategic plan to promote trade and guarantee smooth operations for local businesses, he implored the Senators to actively assist small scale entrepreneurs in exporting goods, stressing that this kind of mental adjustment could greatly strengthen Nigeria's economy and be essential to the creation of jobs.

In response to the Chairman Committee's request that the Service double its efforts in generating money, CGC Adeniyi outlined certain actions that must be taken in order to make enormous progress.

“If we properly monitor the impact of these kinds of instruments, they do not represent an absolute loss to the economy.”

In addition, he said that implementing these policies would boost tax revenues, draw in investors, revitalize the industrial sector, and provide employment for Nigerians—all of which would not be detrimental to the country's economy.

The Committee Chairman, Senator Muhammad Sani, responded by praising Adeniyi for his progress in raising money. Senator Sani expressed hope, saying that the Nigeria Customs Service, based on its recent income records, seems ready to increase its financial contributions—which is necessary for the nation considering its present economic demands.

"By encouraging a more balanced approach, the aim is to empower local businesses through increased attention to export initiatives, aligning with a broader vision for a sustainable economic landscape.”. He said

Additionally, a dialogue with the House of Representatives' Procurement Committee illuminated the financial obligations of the Nigeria Customs Service. Discussions were moved to a later time, though.