By ebosele@hotmail.com
The Senate Committee on Customs and Excise has commended the far-reaching reforms being implemented by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, describing them as evidence of responsible investment of government resources in repositioning the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The commendation came on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a two-day retreat between the NCS and the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise aimed at strengthening legislative oversight and reviewing the Nigeria Customs Service Act.
As part of the programme, members of the committee toured the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, where they were briefed on the Service’s modernisation initiatives, technology-driven operations and institutional reforms.
Speaking after the tour, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, Senator Isah Jibrin, said the visit provided lawmakers with an opportunity to witness the transformation of the NCS firsthand.
“We have heard about these reforms from afar, but today we have seen them ourselves. The transformation taking place in the NCS is remarkable, particularly in the deployment of technology, modern infrastructure and operational innovations that are repositioning the Service for greater efficiency,” Jibrin said.
He said the retreat had given lawmakers a clearer understanding of how funds appropriated to the Service were being utilised.
According to him, the reforms witnessed during the tour demonstrated that government resources were being responsibly invested to strengthen Customs operations, facilitate trade and enhance national revenue.
“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.
The senator assured the Service of the committee’s continued support in providing effective legislative oversight and the necessary backing for its reform initiatives.
Also speaking, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale 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 were initially deployed in personnel administration, postings, staff matters and pensions before being extended to core operational responsibilities.
“Technology helps us to work faster and more efficiently. We started by deploying digital solutions into personnel administration, postings, staff matters and pensions before extending them to our core operational responsibilities, and we will continue until virtually every aspect of Customs operations is technology-driven,” Adeniyi said.
The CGC disclosed that the Service had also introduced advanced technological solutions into its enforcement operations, including virtual shooting simulators, geospatial intelligence and digital surveillance.
“We are deploying geospatial intelligence to map our patrol routes and position our checkpoints more efficiently across the country. Combined with modern training facilities such as our virtual shooting range, these innovations will significantly strengthen our enforcement capabilities,” he said.
Adeniyi further explained that several of the Service’s modernisation initiatives were backed by provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act.
“The law requires us to modernise our operations. Initiatives such as the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, Advance Ruling, Time Release Study, scanner deployment and other technology-driven reforms are all backed by the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act,” he said.
He assured that the NCS would continue to implement the reforms in line with the Federal Government’s reform agenda, with emphasis on technology-driven operations, improved trade facilitation, stronger enforcement and enhanced revenue mobilisation.
