Customs to digitise trade operations
Abuja, Feb. 19, 2024: The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has restated its commitment in digitising its trade operations to ensure transparency and efficiency in its services.
The Comptroller General (C-G) of the NCS, Adewale Adeniyi made this known in a statement issued by the National Public Relations Officer of service, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada on Sunday in Abuja.
Adeniyi said that the digitisation process would be driven through the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP)of the service, conceived to enhance its trade facilitation operations.
TMP aims to modernise customs processes in Nigeria and address long standing challenges of smuggling, tax evasion, and the ease of remittances.
He underscored the significance of digitisation in repositioning the customs service for effective implementation of its constitutional duties.
He said, “It sets the stage for adapting to evolving market dynamics in trade, optimizing operations and procedures, and creating new pathways to unlock revenue streams.”
He said that he has held meeting with the steering committee of the project to ensure that it achieves its goal for the end -to- end automation of the processes and procedures of the customs service and consolidate on its previous progress.
According to the C-G, the TMP comprises of the Unified Customs Management System, Trade Portal, and Cargo Release System.
He added that others include Automation Services such as Big Data and Artificial Intelligence(AI) Integration, Document Management System, as well as Transition and Handbook, which cover Technology Upgrades and Enhanced Capacity Building.