Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its anti-corruption framework with the deployment of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission’s (ICPC) Ethics and Compliance Scorecard (EICS) and Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) Effectiveness Index.
This took place during a visit by an ICPC delegation to the Customs Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Assistant Comptroller-General Isah Umar described the initiative as “an important oversight process” that aligns with the Service’s reforms aimed at ensuring professionalism, accountability, and citizen-focused service delivery.
“We invite the ICPC team to critically review our documentation, and we remain open to collaboration for continuous improvement,” he said.
Umar Sani, who led the ICPC team, said the deployment forms part of the Commission’s annual preventive strategy to ensure Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) maintain high ethical standards.
“The deployment of the Ethics and Compliance Scorecard and the ACTU Effectiveness Index is a preventive tool to ensure MDAs, including the Nigeria Customs Service, are compliant with institutional ethics and procedures,” Sani explained.
He added that the tools assess transparency structures and the strength of internal systems across MDAs.
Also speaking, senior Customs officials Emmanuel Oshoba and Hannel Hadison noted that the NCS has institutionalised ACTU desks across its commands, with officers actively promoting anti-corruption messaging and monitoring compliance.
The ICPC team highlighted that the EICS measures management culture, financial systems, administrative procedures, and ACTU effectiveness, while ACTU officers are key to sensitising staff and reporting unethical practices in collaboration with the ICPC.
