The acting Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, said the target is to start driving some innovative projects even as a total of 300 cadets recently graduated.
Three hundred cadets recently graduated from the Nigeria Customs Training College, Ikeja while 335 recruits passed out from Kano.
NCS spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement said the Nigeria Customs is about to witness remarkable transformations.
“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,” Maiwada said.
Meanwhile, the appointment of Acting CG, Adeniyi was announced on Monday, 19 June, 2023 while he was attending the Policy Commission and Council meetings of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in Brussels, Belgium.
Adeniyi engaged in topical discussions within the global Customs community, advocating for the exploration of AI-driven solutions, including Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions like ChatGPT and advanced geo-spatial intelligence approaches such as GEOINT.
According to the statement signed by Maiwada, these technologies present immense potential for enhancing communication, decision-making processes and enforcement operations within Customs.
Additionally, the NCS has already established a GEOINT 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.”
Maiwada further said in the press release that these advancements underline the NCS’s proactive approach toward embracing cutting-edge technologies.
According to him, the Acting CG further engaged in strategic discussions with partners such as the WCO, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Customs Administration.
The discussions aim to garner support for the establishment of a customs Laboratory, a significant milestone in enhancing customs operations and trade facilitation across Nigeria.
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.
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