The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has called for stronger integrity standards within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), stressing the need for closer institutional collaboration to protect public revenue and strengthen public trust in government.
The Commission made the call during a courtesy visit by the newly deployed Customs Area Controller for the Ondo/Ekiti Command, Deputy Comptroller Patience O. Ita, to the ICPC Ondo State headquarters in Akure.
Speaking during the meeting, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (RACC) for Ondo and Ekiti States, Mr. Tiku Andrew Menge, said the strategic role of the NCS in border management, enforcement and trade facilitation made ethical conduct essential to effective service delivery.
Menge warned that revenue leakages and abuse of regulatory powers could erode public confidence and weaken the effectiveness of government institutions, thereby creating opportunities for corrupt practices.
He explained that the ICPC’s mandate extends beyond the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases to include the identification of systemic vulnerabilities and strengthening of institutional controls to prevent corruption.
According to him, the Commission focuses on creating systems and processes that make corrupt practices difficult to initiate or sustain.
Menge also advocated greater deployment of technology, automation and data-driven processes in Customs administration, noting that such measures could improve traceability and accountability by reducing excessive discretionary human intervention.
He, however, stressed that technology alone would not guarantee integrity, adding that it must be supported by ethical leadership, effective supervision and strong internal controls.
The RACC further noted that corruption prevention and trade facilitation were not competing objectives but mutually reinforcing goals.
He argued that transparent, predictable and efficient Customs procedures would reduce the incentive for traders to resort to informal channels, while creating a more secure and reliable environment for legitimate businesses.
Menge proposed closer collaboration between the ICPC and the Customs Service through practical engagements focused on corruption-risk identification, integrity sensitisation and stakeholder dialogue.
He stressed that such cooperation should be driven by the public interest rather than a supervisory relationship, with both institutions leveraging their respective mandates to improve public service delivery.
Responding, Deputy Comptroller Ita said her visit was aimed at establishing a constructive working relationship with the ICPC following her deployment to the Ondo/Ekiti Command.
She assured the Commission of the command’s readiness to sustain engagement on matters of mutual concern, particularly compliance, enforcement and effective administration of public services.
Menge, however, emphasised that collaboration between the two institutions must not compromise their statutory independence.
He summed up the principle guiding the proposed partnership with a cautionary statement: “Partnership creates trust; it does not create immunity.”
