In a bold push toward digital transformation, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has issued a strategic directive to the ICT/Modernisation Department to reduce physical inspections at the nation’s ports by at least 50% before the third quarter of 2025 ends.
Speaking at the opening of a three-day ICT retreat in Abuja, Adeniyi emphasized that the future of Customs operations rests on harnessing advanced technologies including Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, and non-intrusive inspection systems.
“We must ensure that at least 50% of containers exiting our ports are selected based on intelligence,” he said. “We must now apply existing tools deliberately and systematically.”
Held at IBETO Hotels and themed “Turn off Work; Turn on Retreat”, the event gathered the largest concentration of ICT professionals in the Service’s history, a development the CGC described as a testament to NCS’s growing digital capability.
“This is the largest gathering of highly talented, motivated, and skilled ICT officers in the history of the Service,” Adeniyi noted. “ICT is no longer just a support function; it is the engine room of our modernisation efforts.”
The CGC referenced recent ICT-led successes, including the implementation of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, digitised Customs declarations, and the automation of container transfers to inland terminals.
He also highlighted growing international recognition for Nigerian Customs officers, particularly in areas such as data harmonisation and geospatial intelligence, adding, “This talent must count for something. We must begin to view ICT not merely as a department but as the driving force behind a responsive, modern, and professional Customs Service.”
Following the CGC’s remarks, Deputy Comptroller-General Kikelomo Adeola, who leads the ICT/Modernisation Directorate and convened the retreat, reiterated the department’s readiness to deliver on the new mandate.
“The task ahead may seem daunting, but when great minds unite with a shared purpose, no challenge is insurmountable,” she said. “More work is the reward for excellence, and we are ready.”
Adeola further pledged the department’s commitment to innovation and integrity, stating, “Together, we will raise the banner of the Nigeria Customs Service and elevate our digital transformation journey to new heights.”
