Emeka Okoroanyanwu
Adewale Adeniyi, the newly-appointed Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) will formally take over, on Monday, from the former Comptroller-General, Hameed Ali.
The handover could not take place earlier because both Adeniyi and Ali were away in Brussels, Belgium, attending the 141st/142nd World Customs Organisation (WCO) Conference and Council Meeting when the change of guards took place.
The WCO conference was concluded weekend and the NCS delegation are back in the country.
Customs spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement, on Sunday, said the new Customs boss was set to hit the ground running as he is setting his gaze on international collaborations to unlock the full potentials of the NCS.
He said, “with a strong focus on collaboration, engagement with international organizations, the pursuit of cutting-edge technologies, and consolidating on previous gains, the NCS is poised to redefine customs practices for the better.”
He noted that NCS has already established a GEOINT (geospatial intelligence) unit, leveraging geospatial data, mapping techniques, and satellite imagery to gain valuable insights for Customs operations. Collaborative engagements are already underway to operationalise the use of GEOINT to enhance the efficiency of NCS enforcement operations and contribute to overall efficiency. The advancements, he said, underline the NCS’s proactive approach toward embracing cutting-edge technologies.
While attending the WCO conference, Adeniyi engaged in strategic discussions with partners including officials of the WCO, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Japan Customs Administration to garner support for the establishment of a Customs laboratory to enhance Customs operations and trade facilitation across Nigeria.
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“Amidst the current landscape of evolving global trade dynamics, the NCS Laboratory will provide comprehensive solutions to address challenges such as counterfeit goods, smuggling, and non-compliant imports, thereby bolstering revenue generation and ensuring the protection of public health and safety,” the spokesman said.
According to him, with its advanced analytical capabilities, the laboratory is expected to deliver precise identification, verification, and classification of goods, enabling efficient enforcement measures and informed decision-making, while fostering an environment of trust and credibility within Nigeria’s trade ecosystem, marking a transformative step towards achieving seamless customs operations, trade competitiveness, and national economic growth in line with the vision of the President Tinubu-led administration.
He noted also that the Acting CG’s engagements extended to fruitful discussions with relevant experts and donors, focusing on crucial areas such as conducting a Time Release Study (TRS), implementing the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, leadership, and management development.