…Customs Launch TRS, VRT
The management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) rallies the Service’s major stakeholders, government agencies and critical supporting allies to engage in collaborative efforts to curtail insecurity, economic sabotage and salvage the nation’s economy during the 2024 International Customs Day (ICD) celebration
By Innocent Chukwu
Collaboration, collaboration, effective collaboration! That sing-song became the rave of the moment at the celebration in the oval dome. Virtually all participants-small and big-swam in the collaboration euphoria at the event which even its theme reflected all that is needed to position Nigeria’s maritime business domain in the heart of global competitiveness so as to enable the nation’s fledgling economy tap into the $24 trillion worth sector.
The event took place on Friday, January 26, 2024. Its venue was the Customs Training College premises located in the heart of Lagos State
Capital City, Ikeja. The occasion was the celebration of this year’s International Customs Day (ICD) performed by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and its numerous stakeholders who trooped out in their numbers to show solidarity with the current management of Customs in its pursuit of far-reaching reforms. No better opportunity was available to these critical supporting allies to felicitate with the NCS than the auspicious ICD celebration
A captivating side attraction came in the form of a recorded video drama presentation by some customs operatives to showcase how an effective collaboration amongst government agencies in the ports can result in numerous gains to the country, including checkmating smuggling and insecurity, enhancing trade facilitation, recovery of lost revenue, as well as inter-agency harmony amongst government security agencies.
The drama received a resounding applause, and was to open the floor for dignitaries present to pour encomiums on the management of the NCS for championing such a rare initiative encapsulated in the theme of the 2024 ICD celebration which was, “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose”.
The real essence of the Customs collaboration agenda is to engage the support of all government agencies and supporting allies in its current energized move to curb smuggling, curtail the influx of harmful drugs, recover lost revenue, increase revenue generation and engender sustainable inter-agency partnership for national prosperity.
The dome of the event was full of the high and mighty in the society from all walks of life, especially the business community in the nation’s maritime business sector. The Special Guest of honour was the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola. The Minister of Trade and Investment was ably represented. Others were the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (ES/CEO) of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Pius Ukeyima Akutah, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba, President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Emenike Nwokeoji, Deputy Comptrollers General of Customs (DCGs) among others.
In his welcome speech, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the theme of this year’s ICD celebration aligned with the customs core objectives and three-point agenda of “Consolidation, Innovation and Collaboration”. Adeniyi said this agenda has remained the NCS guiding principles over the past seven months when he was appointed customs CG.
According to the customs boss, the declaration document that came out of the Customs Conference of December 2023, after an exhaustive consultation with stakeholders, was presently undergoing implementation.
Adeniyi also said, “As customs do their part, we call on all stakeholders to reflect on the document and do their part, as customs commitment to implementing this resolution remains firm”.
On his part, the Secretary General of World Customs Organization (WCO), Ian Saunders who delivered a video goodwill message at the occasion, said, “The world has changed dramatically over the decade with unprecedented challenges, including rapid technological advances, environmental and health crisis, and complex geopolitical and economic dynamics.
“The theme for this year is a strategic call for action, everyone should broaden their perspectives, think creatively and embrace innovative approaches “.
The DG-NIMASA, Jamoh, expressed delight with the customs CG for the invitation extended to him, but lamented that it was his first time to be invited to participate in any customs events since he became the NIMASA boss, though he had been expecting invitations from the NCS. Jamoh pleaded with the current customs management to ensure it embraced NIMASA in its subsequent events, especially in this era of collaboration amongst government agencies.
In his keynote address, the Managing Director of NPA, Bello Koko, who received a merit award at the event from the WCO for rendering exceptional services to the international customs community, said NPA’s collaboration with the NCS gives life to NPA’s commitment to the deployment of the Port Community System (PCS) which NPA has pushed to its final phase of consultancy under the technical guidance of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Bello Koko: “This collaboration also gives life to their commitment to the deployment of the Port Community System which the NPA has propelled to the final phase of consultancy under the technical guidance of the IMO.
“The PCS is germane to promoting efficiency and making our ports competitive as it lays the groundwork for National Single Window.
“Our commitment to positioning the Lekki Deep Sea Port as a transshipment hub to service the maritime needs of our landlocked neighbours will also benefit greatly from this collaboration.
“This alignment of vision between NPA and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) portends great fortune for trade facilitation and national prosperity. Maximizing the opportunities inherent in our litoral assets as a maritime nation rests heavily on this collaboration “.
Also speaking at the ICD celebration, the Special Guest of Honour, Adegboyega, called on importers doing business in Nigeria to prioritize the use of the Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) which he said were scattered all over the country. He also encouraged the business community to use rail transport for their cargoes in order to ease the pressure on the ports access roads.
Oyetola also said, “In this era of increased interdependence, customs and its stakeholders must work hand in hand to ensure the overall success of initiatives that will help unlock the immense potential of collaboration and increase revenue generation.
“At this juncture, let me commend the leadership of customs for agreeing to abandon the physical examination of cargoes at our ports and prioritizing the use of scanners. This development will not only increase revenue, it will ensure port efficiency and competitiveness, and it will reduce drastically the cargo turnaround time”.
Time Release Study
Meanwhile, the NCS, on Thursday, February 8, 2024 launched the Time Release Study (TRS) as a testament to its avowed commitment to improve customs operations and trade facilitation in Nigeria.
The launch was witnessed by the Ministers of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite and Marine and Blue Economy, Oyetola, representatives of the WCO, manufacturers, freight forwarders and other well meaning Nigerians. It was held in Lagos.
In his remarks, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adeniyi said that with the launch, the Nigeria Customs was joining other Customs Administrations in the world that had embraced the tools developed by the WCO, to promote the growth of international trade. According to Adeniyi, WCO remained steadfast in its commitment to advancing customs procedures through various instruments and tools, such as the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
The Customs boss noted that TRS was developed to provide comprehensive insights into customs operations’ efficiency, adding that another significant milestone was reached as the Service commenced the TRS in Nigeria, with Tincan Island Port serving as it pilot location.
The CGC further noted that the TRS method was a systematic and standardized approach used to measure the total duration of time from the arrival of goods at the customs border until their release, representing a critical step in the ongoing efforts by the Service to optimize the trading experience and customs operations in Nigeria.
“It is a strategic endeavour aimed at improving how we facilitate trade, ensuring alignment with international best practices, and contributing substantially to national development. TRS plays a crucial role in assessing and enhancing trade facilitation by providing detailed insights into the efficiency of our processes.
“Our dynamic and rapidly changing environment requires swift and adaptable responses to the needs as they arise. Adopting a scientific and data driven approach is paramount not only for customs administrations but also for all stakeholders involved in international trade. With the complexities of modern trade, traditional evaluation methods often fall short in accurately identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies across the entire trading environment. The TRS methodology offers a systematic and precise analysis, enabling us to identify areas for improvement with accuracy.
“This scientific approach enhances the credibility and reliability of our findings, ensuring that efforts to optimize trade facilitation are targeted and effective. Embracing these methodologies allows stakeholders to collaboratively work towards enhancing trade efficiency and promoting broader economic development.
“In response to the dynamic demands of our environment, fostering cooperation between Customs administrations (C2C) and Customs-to-Business (C2B) interactions is paramount. The WCO provides invaluable platforms for such collaboration, offering capacity building, technical assistance, and best practice sharing. With the expertise of our colleagues present, we are well equipped to support the TRS effectively”, he said.
Adeniyi recalled that in 2010, the NCS underwent a comprehensive TRS conducted by the USAID Markets Project, focusing on the Apapa Port and Seme Border. He added that that the study employed standardized methodologies and precise time analyses, offering crucial insights into the Service’s operational dynamics.
“Subsequently, some twenty cross-cutting recommendations were made, including the development of an Authorized Economic Operator, AEO program, implementation of a Single Window system, purchase of additional cargo handling equipment, infrastructure repairs at the ports, streamlining of terminal yard logistics, enforcement of truck safety standards, use of more scanners, implementation of paperless clearance, and imposition of penalties to deter non-compliance.
“A second attempt was made in 2018 to conduct another TRS exercise; however, it was unsuccessful due to the lack of proper collaboration among the relevant agencies. Today’s exercise builds on the lessons learned from both the 2010 and 2018 attempts. We have made significant progress since then, including the implementation of paperless clearance and advancements in our AEO programs. Additionally, provisions under the new Customs Act now speak to the imposition of penalties to deter non-compliance.
“The need for greater collaboration, underscored by the presence of three Honourable Ministers today, is a crucial lesson learned from past exercises.
Recommendations such as the implementation of a Single Window have been longstanding, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts. Today’s TRS promises to take a different dimension, aligned with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Administration policy targets aimed at promoting effectiveness and efficiency in all fronts, including trade facilitation and economic reform”, he further said.
Stating that several other measures had been put in place ahead of the day’s exercise, including the revitalization of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, NTFC and extensive stakeholder engagements resulting in the signing of the Lagos Continental Declaration document, he said, “We are pleased to note the timely implementation of these activities, with further evaluations scheduled at the end of the first quarter of this year.
“The launch of the TRS in Lagos today underscores our commitment to improving customs operations and trade facilitation in Nigeria. In addition to TRS, the NCS is deploying the AEO program, Advanced Ruling, and establishing a Customs Laboratory as part of its ongoing efforts to facilitate trade and improve government revenue. These initiatives are supported by the WCO, further emphasizing our dedication to enhancing trade efficiency and promoting economic growth and national development through collaboration, innovation, and strategic measures.”
The Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Lydia Jafiya, said that implementation of the TRS would foster a business friendly environment whereby several countries in Europe and America would be a attracted to bring cargo to Nigeria.
Edun seeks stakeholders collaboration in achieving success in the implementation of the TRS which would reduce time of doing cargo clearance and trade facilitation.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Doris Uzoka-Anite, commended the NCE for the fantastic initiatives geared towards enhancing trade and ease of doing business in Nigeria.
“I am absolutely confident they will be a great success and Nigeria will reap their benefit through sustained economic growth in the coming years,” she said.
Uzoka-Anite said that she was inspired to do more to facilitate trade and increased Nigeria’s trade volume, she also she encouraged stakeholders to join her in the business.
She said that effective trade facilitation required efficient coordination across the entire supply chain.
She added that the approach required careful planning and collaboration across a wide number of government departments and agencies as well as close cooperation with the private sector.
Uzoka Anite said, “I wish to announce that we will Re-launch and Revitalise the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) where the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, the Nigerian Customs Service, and many other MDAs will work alongside the private sector to effectively plan and implement more successful trade facilitation reforms that will continually increase our trade volume year on year.”
Virtual Reality Tech
At another event, the CGC, Adeniyi, has emphasized his administration’s commitment to boost trade and combat smuggling through Advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI). Adeniyi declared a 2-day workshop on Virtual Reality Technology (VRT) installation, organized by WCO and Ho Entertainment on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
The Assistant Comptroller General Malanta Yusuf, on behalf of Adeniyi, commended WCO and CCF Korea for their collaborative gesture. He highlighted the CGC’s dedication to technological advancements, including officers training on radioactive elements to prevent smuggling.
ACG Kingsley Egwuh, Commandant of Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), also called for the collaboration efforts which he said was pivotal to achieving desired results. He expressed optimism that the workshop would enhance customs personnel skills, improve inspection procedures, and curb smuggling.
On his part, Professor Baek Sung-Sil, a WCO representative, praised the CGC’s commitment to modernizing customs activities through technology. He commended the participants’ conduct and expressed confidence in the positive impact of the training.
