President Tinubu Assures Policy Backing For NCS To Deliver Its Mandate ,Declares Conference Open.
By Helen Udo, Outlook Media ABUJA.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured to provide policy backing and enablement required to strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service to deliver on its mandate.
He said this policy backing including support for technology advancement, infrastructure development and capacity building programs that align with global best practices.
President Tinubu made assurance while declaring an open ceremony of the 2024 comptroller General customs conference on Wednesday in Abuja noted that the Nigeria custom service has not only shown remarkable progress in revenue generation but has also enhance government’s capacity to fund critical national development project.
According to Tinubu, through strategic reforms, the service is strengthening Nigeria’s position as a trade friendly nation, particular in the areas of export promotion and port efficiency.
This he said has contributed significantly to our improved global ranking in the case of doing business.
The president who was represented by his adviser on national security Mallam Nuhu Ribadu , further noted that the Nigeria custom service has also demonstrate effective trade facilitation with strong regulatory compliance that enhanced border security and anti smuggling operations
” This achievements affirm our administration’s belief that public institutions, when properly aligned with national objectives Can effectively drive transformative change”
The president while assuring that his administration will remain committed in supporting the Nigeria Customs service in it’s modernization and reform initiatives, he also believe that the success of our reforms agenda significantly depends on the service’s ability to balance trade facilitation with regulatory compliance while fostering meaningful partnership.
In the same vein, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniy highlited the service’s time release study has significantly contributed to achieving 24-hour cargo clearance and minimizing dwell time at the ports.Adeniyi commended Operation Whirlwind, a collaborative effort led by the Office of the National Security Adviser and backed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency, which focuses on combating fuel smuggling.
“Our strategic engagements and collaborative approaches have yielded remarkable results across our core statutory responsibilities. I am pleased to announce that, as of 12 November 2024 at exactly 13:10 Hrs, the NCS hit its 2024 revenue target of ₦5.07tn, collecting ₦5.079tn with more than a month remaining in the fiscal year,”He revealed.
“The Continental Declaration of 2023 marked a turning point in our approach to partnership – not just a document of promises, but a blueprint for transformation. Today, I stand before you to demonstrate how those commitments have evolved into tangible achievements,he said.
“Our pledge was comprehensive and ambitious: modernizing our processes through a one-stop solution for cargo alerts, revolutionizing our ICT infrastructure, streamlining examination procedures, and embracing automation for enhanced efficiency,he said.
“We committed to reimagining our free trade zone operations, elevating cargo integrity standards, and expanding our scanning capabilities. Above all, we promised to usher in a new era of customs operations one built on transparency, efficiency, and genuine collaboration with our partners”,he stated.