The Senate Committee on Customs and Excise has commended the sweeping reforms being implemented by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), saying the transformation under Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi demonstrates that public funds allocated to the Service are being judiciously utilised.
The commendation came during a two-day retreat between the NCS and the Senate Committee, organised to strengthen legislative oversight and review the Nigeria Customs Service Act.
As part of the retreat, members of the committee toured the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, where they inspected ongoing modernisation initiatives, technology-driven operations and institutional reforms aimed at improving efficiency, enforcement and trade facilitation.
Speaking after the tour, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, Senator Isah Jibrin, said the lawmakers had gained firsthand insight into the transformation taking place within the Service.
Jibrin said the deployment of technology, modern infrastructure and operational innovations had significantly repositioned the NCS for improved performance.
He said the visit had also provided lawmakers with a clearer understanding of how funds appropriated for the Service were being deployed.
“When the NCS comes before the National Assembly seeking approval for capital expenditure, we now have a clearer understanding of what those resources are being used for,” he said, stressing that the reforms demonstrated responsible investment in Customs operations, trade facilitation and revenue generation.
Responding, Adeniyi attributed the progress recorded by the Service to the deliberate deployment of technology across virtually every aspect of Customs administration.
He said digital solutions had been introduced in personnel administration, postings, staff matters and pensions, with plans to extend technology-driven processes across the entire organisation.
The Customs boss also disclosed that advanced technologies were being deployed for enforcement, including virtual shooting simulators, geospatial intelligence and digital surveillance.
According to him, geospatial intelligence was being used to map patrol routes and strategically position checkpoints, while modern training facilities were strengthening the operational capabilities of officers.
Adeniyi said reforms such as the Authorized Economic Operator Programme, Advance Ruling, Time Release Study and scanner deployment were backed by the Nigeria Customs Service Act.
He stressed that continued implementation of the reforms remained central to supporting the Federal Government’s broader agenda of modernizing Customs, facilitating legitimate trade and strengthening national revenue mobilisation.