Nigeria Customs Service celebrates accomplishments under new leadership
Story from Haruna Yusuf
In a momentous development for Nigeria’s economy, the Nigeria Customs Service has unveiled its impressive accomplishments within the first 100 days under the leadership of the Acting Comptroller-General.
This marks the beginning of a transformative journey aimed at reshaping the service and driving economic growth. The announcement was made on Saturday during a press conference held in Abuja.
During the conference, the Acting Comptroller-General expressed his gratitude to all attendees and emphasized the significance of the occasion.
Drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s famous words, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” the Acting Comptroller-General stressed that the Nigeria Customs Service is poised to not only envision but actively bring about change.
He outlined the principles guiding their actions: consolidation, collaboration, and innovative solutions.
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Recognising the pivotal role that Customs plays in facilitating international trade and economic growth, the Acting Comptroller-General praised the dedication and resilience of the Customs officers across the nation.
He highlighted their united mission to reshape the future and build a better service for Nigeria.
The visionary policy thrust of “Consolidation, Collaboration, and Innovative Solutions” was unveiled as the driving force behind their mission. This policy represents a commitment to build upon the legacy of excellence, strengthen partnerships, and embrace innovation to address the challenges of today’s dynamic world.
At the heart of this vision are the core values of community focus, collaboration, integrity, excellent service, and innovative solutions. These values will guide every action, ensuring that the Nigeria Customs Service remains responsive to the ever-changing demands of international trade and security.
The Acting Comptroller-General emphasized that their chosen policy thrust seamlessly aligns with the broader vision of becoming the most efficient and service-driven government organ, with a relentless focus on revenue growth and border security. This alignment creates the momentum required to achieve their mission and serve the nation with dedication and distinction.
The Acting Comptroller-General also acknowledged the deliberate alignment of their policy thrust with the President Tinubu-led administration’s eight priority areas, which include food security, ending poverty, economic growth, job creation, access to capital, improving security, improving the ease of doing business, upholding the rule of law, and fighting corruption.
As they embark on this transformational journey, the Acting Comptroller-General pointed out the challenges faced in their initial phase. These challenges include resistance to change, bureaucratic bottlenecks, policy inconsistencies, and the persistent issue of smuggling. However, he reassured that these challenges would be addressed proactively and turned into opportunities for growth and improvement.
In the first 100 days, the Nigeria Customs Service has already made significant strides, including enhanced revenue generation, successful combatting of smuggling, strengthened collaborations, and the introduction of innovative solutions.
With key performance indicators (KPIs) firmly in place, the Customs Service aims to measure progress transparently and continually refine its operations. The KPIs include monitoring monthly revenue collection, average clearance times, stakeholder satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
As they look to the future, the Nigeria Customs Service envisions becoming a pivotal driver of national economic growth and border security, setting new standards of excellence in government service.
The Acting Comptroller-General called for unity, unwavering commitment, and a relentless focus on their goals. He expressed confidence that together, they would shape a brighter future for the Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria as a whole.
The Nigeria Customs Service’s first 100 days have set the stage for a transformative journey, and the nation eagerly anticipates the results of their bold agenda.