In its unwavering commitment to harness technological advancements for the enhancement of operational efficiency, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) embarked on a significant initiative. On the 1st of November 2023, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, inaugurated a two-day workshop focusing on the utilization of GEOSPATIAL technology for the benefit of the NCS staff.
The program, as announced by the CGC, who was duly represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs responsible for Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Sa’idu Galadima, is designed to equip the NCS officers with a comprehensive understanding of border security. This knowledge is expected to yield positive outcomes in fortifying Nigeria’s economic stability.
The CGC emphasized his ardent commitment to enhancing the NCS’s operational efficiency, with a strategic emphasis on leveraging technology to bolster trade and combat smuggling, among other illicit activities.
The Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG) described the CGC as “a staunch advocate of technological advancement.”
The Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernization, Kikelomo Adeola, underscored the significance of introducing GEOSPATIAL technology training to the NCS personnel. She highlighted the shift from the traditional practice of deploying armed officers to scout smugglers in remote areas. This paradigm shift underscores the necessity of the geospatial program, which aims to equip NCS staff with the requisite knowledge to effectively counter smuggling activities from the comfort of their offices.
Adeola emphasized that the successful conclusion of this workshop will empower the NCS to detect illicit and unauthorized routes frequently exploited by smugglers along the border areas. It will also facilitate timely interventions to thwart these nefarious activities.
She articulated, “This training program will play a pivotal role in reinforcing the NCS’s unwavering commitment to improving trade in Nigeria. Geospatial technology not only offers valuable insights to our officers for curbing smuggling through technological means but also provides accurate and timely intelligence to ensure the successful achievement of our anti-smuggling initiatives.”
