Technology Will Improve Trade Facilitation, Revenue Generation – Customs

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has said adopting technological solutions will improve trade facilitation and revenue generation of the service.

Speaking against the backdrop of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Technology Conference and Exhibition, the acting comptroller general of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who believed that adopting these technological solutions would be a game-changer for Nigeria, expressed his readiness to initiate processes for their adoption in Nigeria.

LEADERSHIP reports that the conference exposed participants to advanced technological solutions required to address complex Customs challenges.

The Nigerian delegation led by Adeniyi at the conference and exhibition held in Hanoi, Vietnam, said, “We’ve learnt a lot, seeing the deployment of artificial intelligence, machine learning, non-intrusive technology, and various data analytics to analyse Customs issues and provide solutions.”

The acting CGC emphasised the significance of the WCO Technology Conference, which has been a pivotal event for over a decade, providing a platform for customs administrations, partner companies, sponsors, technology firms, and more to collaborate and exchange insights on the effective integration of technology in customs operations.

The assistant comptroller-general in charge of ICT/Modernisation, ACG Kikelomo Adeola, also attended the conference and shared her commitment to embracing the e-commerce process. She emphasised the automation and AI-driven approach to improving customs operations.

The managing director of the Trade Modernisation Project, Jummai Umar Ajijola, emphasised the strong partnership between the NCS and the Trade Modernisation Project, highlighting their alignment to ensure the end-to-end automation of NCS processes and procedures.

Welcoming participants, the secretary general of the WCO, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, highlighted the critical role of technology in supporting Customs administrations around the globe.