Customs Builds ICT Centre

The Comptroller General
of Customs, Dr. Abdullahi Dikko through the Apapa Area 1 Command of Nigeria Customs Service, have put in place an ultra modern Information Communication Technology (ICT) Centre and Communication Tower(mast) of 160 metres height to serve  Zone A of the service, which comprises all customs areas and formations in the South West geo political zone of the country
The new installations, according to Charles Edike, Customs Area Comptroller (CAC) of Apapa customs, will not only boost customs revenue collection, but would  also facilitate legitimate trade without compromising national security and improve on the existing customs community relations.
The installed facilities will also enhance the operational interface between the customs other government organisation and organised private sector stakeholders. Govern-ment agencies like the office of the Nigeria Shippers Council are connected to the system.
It also connects private sector stakeholders involved in customs clearance procedure like the commercial banks and Direct Trader Input (DTI) café operators involved in customs duty collection and documentation processing respectively .
‘’Our ICT centre is going to complement the functions of the Customs Ruling Centre based in our Abuja Headquarters, and will serve as a base for training and retraining of officers and stakeholders.
It will also replicate at the area command level some of the modern techniques in customs operations officers have learnt at the Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagawlada, he said.
The Apapa Customs chief added that ‘’As a way of passing the message through the media to the public, we are training over 50 maritime journalists at the ICT Centre as pioneer trainees to give them first hand knowledge about the information they are to disseminate and get them to experience some basic theoretical and case study training about customs clearance procedures under interna-tionally certified trainers. This will also keep them abreast of the fast evolving trend in customs modernization.
‘’Let me refresh our memories on the six point agenda of my CGC which includes maximising the potentials of the service through capacity building; Moral rebirth for discipline and integrity in the service, in tandem with the national current rebranding; Ensuring enhanced welfare package for officers and men of the Service and consolidating on the current e-customs through ASYCUDA for international best practices.
Others are  continued collaboration and partnering with  stakeholders and  international organisations; and Fostering mutual understanding between the Service and the general public through coordinated public relations activities’’.
The installed ICT facilities will further boost the output of the command that has since surpassed all the teething challenges associated with the implementation of the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) as agents and importers upon lodging sincere declarations are issued the PAAR in a matter of hours.
The facility was commissioned by Assistant Comptroller General and Zonal Coordinator in charge of Zone A, Victor Osita Gbemudu,who urged all stakeholders to take advantage and make maximum use of the training facility.

Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson (middle), with some girls undergoing Ict training at the 1000 Girls Ict Training Programme of the Ministry in Abuja last Tuesday. Photo: NAN