The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced the training of its officers and stakeholders on automated transire.
The move is one of the bold steps recently embarked upon by the Comptroller General of the service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi towards modernizing its operations.
According to the Customs boss, the initiative aims to improve movement of goods across Nigeria’s borders, leveraging cutting-edge technology to reduce clearance times, minimize cargo diversion risks, and enhance supply chain efficiency.
During the session with the stakeholders, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) of Customs ACG Charles Orbih who represented the Comptroller General of customs emphasized the importance of this technological upgrade as a strategic shift designed to position Nigeria at the forefront of global trade efficiency, security, and transparency.
The ACG acknowledged the valuable contributions of all stakeholders in the sector, ranging from the Bonded Warehouse Representatives, Terminal Operators, Shipping Lines, Transport and Badge Operators.
According to him, ‘your dedication and expertise are vital to the success of our collective efforts in modernizing Nigeria Customs operations. We have come together today to discuss a transformative milestone that is set to revolutionize the way we operate – The Automated Transit Process.
‘This is not just a technological upgrade; it is a strategic shift designed to position Nigeria at the forefront of global trade efficiency, security, and transparency’, he stated.
He noted that the new process is designed to improve the movement of goods across Nigeria borders by leveraging state-of-the-art technology.
‘Our goal is to reduce the time and complexity involved in customs clearance, minimize the risks of cargo diversion, and ultimately improve the efficiency of our supply chain’, he said.
Speaking further on the key objectives of the new initiative, he said the scheme was aimed at speeding up customs clearance by automating transit processes.
He pointed out that by so doing, ‘we can reduce bottlenecks, shorten clearance times, and provide faster access to goods. This means less waiting time at ports and terminals, which benefits importers, exporters, and everyone in the logistics chain’.
The scheme is further aimed at reducing the risk of cargo diversion and improving tracking. ‘With real-time tracking and data transparency, the risk of cargo being diverted or lost will be significantly minimized. We can ensure that every shipment is tracked accurately from point A to point B, boosting confidence among stakeholders’, he added.
The scheme also aims at increasing transparency and accountability by offering greater visibility into every step of the customs process, ‘which means there will be fewer opportunities for corruption or errors. This will foster trust between customs and our partners, ensuring compliance with best practices and global standards’, he added.
Also emphasising the promoting of international best practices, he said by embracing automation, ‘we will not only enhance local operations but also align with global standards. This will facilitate smoother trade relationships with our international partners and increase Nigeria’s attractiveness as a trade destination’, he added.
