How Adeniyi is re-positioning Nigeria Customs through multi-stakeholder collaboration

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Since his appointment as Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi has embarked on an exciting journey towards enhancing Customs’ efficiency through multi-stakeholder collaborations, cutting-edge AI-driven technological solutions and innovative projects, writes TOLA ADENUBI.

SINCE his appointment as acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service on June 19, 2023, Adewale Adeniyi has pursued an unrelenting commitment to unlocking the service full potential, which is hinged on his policy thrust of Collaboration, consultation and innovation.

His partnership with professionals and global experts since assumption of office has been geared towards making informed decisions that will promote trade facilitation, security and operational effectiveness of the Service.

Partnership with foreign bodies/countries

Recently, the Service made collaborative engagements to operationalise the use of GEOINT to enhance the efficiency of NCS enforcement operations and contribute to overall efficiency.

The Acting CG has engaged in strategic discussions with partners such as the World Customs Organisation (WCO), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Customs Administration. The discussions aim to garner support for establishing a Customs laboratory, a significant milestone in enhancing Customs operations and trade facilitation across Nigeria.

The NCS Laboratory is expected to provide comprehensive solutions to address challenges such as counterfeit goods, smuggling and non-compliant imports, thereby bolstering revenue generation and ensuring the protection of public health and safety.

With its advanced analytical capabilities, the laboratory is expected to deliver precise identification, verification and classification of goods, enabling efficient enforcement measures and informed decision-making while fostering an environment of trust and credibility within Nigeria’s trade ecosystem, marking a transformative step towards achieving seamless Customs operations, trade competitiveness and national economic growth in line with the vision of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

His engagements have extended to fruitful discussions with relevant experts and donors, focusing on crucial areas such as conducting a Time Release Study (TRS), implementing the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, leadership and management development. These discussions underscore his commitment to comprehensive improvements and inclination to adopt innovative solutions across various Customs domains, ultimately enhancing operations.

On Tuesday, September 12, 2023, The acting Comptroller-General of Customs expressed his commitment to synergise with the Benin Republic to enhance trans-border security and regulate trade between the two countries.

This was disclosed when he officially received senior officers of Benin Customs, led by their Director-General, Alain Hinkati, at the Nigeria Customs Headquarters, Abuja, in continuation of a two-day interactive session.

Other areas that the partnership will address include enhancing the proper use of international transit guidelines to govern transit-bound goods and fees from Cotonou Port to Nigeria and integration of Nigeria into the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit

He said the treaty between the two agencies will prepare the way for an in-depth mechanism to harmonise the import prohibition lists of products banned by the two countries.

Other areas that will benefit the countries are fostering closer ties to Nigeria and Benin and re-activating the joint committee for monitoring trade and transit relations.

The Customs boss has also affirmed partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UNHabitat, to combat smuggling.

The CGC stated this on Tuesday, September 19, when he received Ambassadors of the UNHabitat, led by Dr Raymond Edoh, at the Customs Headquarters, Abuja.

The CGC appreciated the collaborative effort between the Nigeria Customs Service and UNHabitat and believes that the collaboration signifies a commitment to tackling smuggling and enhancing trade facilitation in the nation, setting the stage for a more prosperous future.

Collaboration with MDAs, state governments

THE Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of Adeniyi has also reinvigorated collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transport to decongest the ports. This came as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Magdalene Ajani and her team paid a visit to the CGC at Customs Headquarters in Abuja on July 6, 2023 to reiterate commitments to partnership with the Service

At the meeting, Adeniyi stressed the need to implement policies that create sufficient space at the ports.

On border security, Adeniyi, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, paid a courtesy visit to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, at his office in Abuja, to seek support on border security

“The porous nature of the nation’s borders necessitates my visit to the NSA to fashion the best way to tackle the menace of smuggling, which has adverse effects on our economy and security,” the CGC had stated.

Still in the spirit of collaboration, the CGC on Friday, July 21, 2023, during his official visit to Seme and Badagry environs, urged local communities to support law enforcement agencies in enhancing border security

In what seems like one of the most productive collaborations towards enhancing national security and curbing revenue loss, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) commenced an intensive vehicle database integration of the two government agencies.

The collaboration was effected during the official visit of Adeniyi to the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dauda Ali Biu, at the national headquarters of the commission.

Also, on Thursday, August 3, 2023, the Customs boss visited the acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. The visit sought inter-agencies’ cooperation and collaboration to fast-track sustainable working relationships between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure adequate security of lives and properties in the country.

Innovation

As part of the innovative strategy in reviewing the anti-smuggling operations of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Ag. CGC dissolved the Strike force Team on the 17th of July 17, 2023, to strengthen the Federal Operations Unit Arm of the Service nationwide.

He disclosed that it was done to also allow for more accountability and reduce multiple checkpoints. He ordered all arms, records and operational vehicles to be submitted to the FOUs.

In a significant development on the facilitation of trade, Adeniyi took decisive action in response to selected Authorized Dealer Banks failing to meet Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) related to Customs duty and statutory charge remittances.

This decision followed a thorough audit and due process, aligning with the NCS’s commitment to upholding transparency, accountability and efficiency in revenue collection.

The primary objective is to ensure the accurate and timely remittance of Customs duties and other essential funds for national development.

Despite the deactivation of these banks, the Comptroller-General of Customs implemented measures to minimise disruptions for importers and stakeholders within the trading ecosystem. He assured the trading community that all pending assessments will undergo clearance processes in line with international best practices.

Importers who previously relied on the deactivated banks for duty payments were advised to utilise other authorized dealer banks that comply with NCS regulations.

The deactivated banks will have the opportunity to be reactivated once they meet all regulatory requirements and settle outstanding remittances, the acting CGC warned.

The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, having embarked on a journey of collaboration focused on reforms, restructuring, and innovation has most importantly shown that he is fully committed to the successful implementation of the new Customs Act 2023, as he has continued to work diligently to familiarise the Officers and stakeholders with its provisions, ensuring its effective application across all the Service operations.

Through his continuous engagements with stakeholders across different sectors, he has not relented in creating the much-needed awareness and understanding of the Customs Act and the importance of successfully achieving the Service shared goals, which he sees as a collective effort of all the Officers, personnel, stakeholders and the public while emphasizing the need to embrace the spirit of compliance and collaboration.

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