The Nigeria Customs Service just appointed two new Deputy Comptroller-Generals DCGs and five Assistant Comptroller-Generals ACGs, all confirmed by the Customs Board in a Tuesday meeting chaired by Finance Minister Wale Edun.
The appointments, confirmed by the Customs Board in a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Wale Edun, come as senior officers retire from service.
The newly appointed DCGs are OA Alajogun and KI Adeola, with Adeola set to lead the ICT-Modernisation Department. The five new ACGs will also assume key roles within the service. These strategic appointments are expected to provide the necessary leadership and expertise to drive the digital transformation of the Nigeria Customs Service.
As the customs sector faces increasing challenges posed by the growth of e-commerce and the need for more efficient risk management, the adoption of digital technologies has become crucial. The new leadership team, with their experience and commitment to modernization, is poised to introduce innovative solutions that will streamline customs clearance processes, enhance data analysis capabilities, and facilitate secure trade.
Key areas where digital technologies can significantly improve customs operations include:
- Automated processing: Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze manifests and declarations, reducing manual processing and increasing accuracy.
- Changing declaration processes: Collecting supporting document information from sources instead of declarants, eliminating the need for physical submissions and enabling remote audits.
- Remote processing: Enabling customs officers to perform functions like valuation and back-office tasks from centralized locations, improving efficiency and consistency.
- Blockchain technology: Applying features like distributed ledger technologies and smart contracts to simplify processes, reduce human intervention, and enhance cross-border supply chain efficiency.
The Nigeria Customs Service, under its new leadership, is well-positioned to leverage these digital solutions and more to transform its operations, boost trade facilitation, and contribute to the country’s economic growth. With the right strategies and implementation, the NCS can become a model of efficiency and innovation in the region.