By Uzor Odigbo
The acting Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of ICT/ Modernisation, Aliyu Galadima Saidu, has described recently approved E-Customs Project as one that would make Nigeria rank with countries with best Customs administration in the world.
The project, he said, would enhance International trade and support government drive revenue collection.
He added that it has been attracting accolades to the Comptroller General of Customs from other countries and international organizations.
At Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) organised programme, Customs Duty, Saidu said that the project would also strengthen the service capacity for information sharing with other agencies of government and private operators.
He said that contrary to the thinking by some persons that the project is a concession to take over Customs function, officers of the NCS would be fully involved in the running of the project as it will boost their capacity and increase their productivity.
Saidu said, “E-Customs is an integration of Customs application processes, platform, hardwares involving all-in-one nationwide import, export , excise and office management under one digital platform.
“In addition to this, it is a solution to facilitate processes of licensing clearance, cargo management, revenue collection and payment.
“The automation of Customs procedures has been a key component in Customs reform and modernization globally. It is not only peculiar to developing nations and this initiatives and support across the globe has been facilitated and emphasised by international donor organisations like World Trade Organisation, World Customs Organisation and other organizations globally.
“The impacts are enormous. Number one, it is going to facilitate international trade. It is going to block all the loopholes leakages in revenue generation and the end result is going to enhance our revenue collection. It is going to enhance border security.
“We are going to have a robust platform of sharing information. It is going to enhance the capacity of Customs officers and men and the clearance procedure is going to be shorten . This will provide us with best technology to support the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
“It will also strengthen trade facilitation has being advocated by the World Customs Organisation. It is going to enhance professionalism and specialization in Nigeria Customs Service.”
