The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has attributed the transformation of the Service to the deliberate deployment of technology across its operations.
Adeniyi spoke during a two-day retreat between the NCS and the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise in Abuja, organised to strengthen legislative oversight and review the implementation of the Nigeria Customs Service Act.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Customs spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, a Deputy Comptroller, Adeniyi said technology had significantly improved the speed and efficiency of Customs operations.
He said the Service began its digital transformation with personnel administration, including postings, staff matters and pensions, before extending the process to its core operational activities.
“Technology helps us to work faster and more efficiently. We started by deploying digital solutions into personnel administration, postings, staff matters and pensions before extending them to our core operational responsibilities,” Adeniyi said.
He added that the NCS was working towards making virtually every aspect of its operations technology-driven.
The Comptroller-General also highlighted the deployment of advanced technology in enforcement operations, including virtual shooting simulators, geospatial intelligence and digital surveillance.
According to him, geospatial intelligence was being used to map patrol routes and improve the positioning of checkpoints across the country.
“We are deploying geospatial intelligence to map our patrol routes and position our checkpoints more efficiently across the country. Combined with modern training facilities such as our virtual shooting range, these innovations will significantly strengthen our enforcement capabilities,” he said.
Adeniyi said the Nigeria Customs Service Act provided the legal framework for several of the Service’s modernisation initiatives, including the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, Advance Ruling, Time Release Study and scanner deployment.
He said the Service would continue implementing the reforms in support of the Federal Government’s reform agenda.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, Senator Isah Jibrin, commended the reforms under Adeniyi’s leadership, saying they demonstrated efforts to improve the efficiency of the NCS and ensure effective utilisation of resources.
Jibrin said the lawmakers had the opportunity to witness the transformation of the Service firsthand.
“We have heard about these reforms from afar, but today we have seen them ourselves. The transformation taking place in the NCS is remarkable, particularly in the deployment of technology, modern infrastructure and operational innovations,” he said.
He added that the retreat provided lawmakers with a clearer understanding of how funds appropriated to the NCS were being utilised.
Jibrin said the reforms demonstrated that government resources were being invested in strengthening Customs operations, facilitating trade and improving national revenue.
As part of the programme, members of the committee toured the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, where they received briefings on the Service’s modernisation initiatives, technology-driven operations and institutional reforms.
