The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has expressed his delight to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on his appointment as the CG of Nigeria Customs Service in the last one year.
The CG, who expressed his heartfelt gratitude during a press ponference on the the 19th of June, 2024 in Abuja, to mark his 1st year anniversary as the CG of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said the conference afforded him the opportunity to provide an account of the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) performance in the past year under his stewardship as the Comptroller-General of Customs.
In his words: “Exactly 1 year ago today, and approximately 3 weeks into the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I was appointed by Mr. President as the ComptrollerGeneral of this strategic agency, the NCS.
“My appointment came during the nascent stage of the administration, when policy directives were being fine-tuned to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
“Under the guidance of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the NCS embarked on an initiative to align its statutory responsibilities with Mr. President’s Policy Advisory Document
(PAD).
“In this regard, a total of 9 priority areas were highlighted to deliver immediate benefits within the administration’s first twelve months. These areas were aligned under 4 core statutory responsibilities of the NCS; trade facilitation, revenue collection, protection of society, and collaboration with stakeholders.
“The priorities include: the Trade Facilitation Responsibility, which has to do with transforming Nigeria into Africa’s most efficient trading nation and decongesting areas within 4km around ports for cargo, road,and railway users.
“Enforcing the Presidential directive on 48-hour clearance of goods at seaports in line with Executive Order 001, as we as redefining performance measures of key government agencies to emphasize trade facilitation.
“Implementing the National Single Window Trading Platform Project to streamline import and export processes; as well astablishing dedicated seaport and airport export terminals with enhanced capacity and upgraded access roads.
“Under the Revenue Collection Mandate of NCS, it consists of declaring a state of emergency in revenue generation, reviewing and restructuring existing incentives, waivers, and tariffs to plug economic leakages and boost key sectors.
“On NCS Mandate to Protect the Society. It has to do with declaring a state of emergency in national security, aligned with the PAC document.
“In Terms of the Service Mandate on Collaboration with stakeholders. It consists of promoting strategic communication and engagement with key stakeholders, which was prioritized.”
The CG further emphasised that: “These set priorities were further endorsed by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, during our inaugural briefing with the NCS Management Team.
“Following the finalization of the Presidential Priority Areas (PPA) in subsequent weeks, the Service promptly realigned its operations to support 6 out of the 8 PPAs that fall within its statutory
responsibilities, including: reforming the economy to foster sustained inclusive growth, strengthening national security to promote peace and prosperity, enforcing cross border prohibition to achieve food security.
“Prioritizing education, health, and social investment as pillars of national development, accelerating diversification through industrialization, digitization, creative arts, manufacturing, and innovation and improving governance for effective service delivery.”
According to CG Adeniyi: “These PPAs have been incorporated with the identified priority areas of the PAD in developing strategies to pursue the NCS statutory mandate under the overarching policy thrust of building upon previous successes, collaborating with strategic stakeholders, and deploying innovative solutions.
“This methodological approach was designed to achieve a tripartite objective, which include: aligning NCS activities with the policy directives of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, as one of the dependable agencies contributing to the realization of government plans for Nigerians and to ensure that NCS contribute effectively to the implementation of fiscal policy objectives under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance.
CG Adeniyi further disclosed that the above objectives were achieved, along with the set targets by the government, based on NCS statutory responsibilities, adding that the Service has enjoyed steadfast support from Mr. President, through the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, whoalso serves as the Chairman of the Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB), in the implementation of relevant policy measures.
CG Adeniyi continued: “Thus, the outcomes in this performance report are attributed to the successes of the Chairman and Members of the Board for creating the enabling policy environment for the actualization of Mr. President’s vision.
“One of the leading policy measures implemented under the guidance of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy was the transition from the repealed Customs and Excise Act of 2004 to the newly signed Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023.
“This new act strengthens the
modernization of NCS operations, compliance, and enforcement, with features that promote innovation within the Service, which include: extensive sensitization, among others,” CG Adeniyi opined.
