By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), has said that it will be launching an electronic platform to accommodate applicants from interested Nigerians as part of efforts towards boosting transparency in its auctioning process.
Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of Customs, on Wednesday in Abuja at a press conference on the Service 2023 Performance and Forecast for 2024, said, “In the upcoming week, the NCS is set to inaugurate an electronic auction (e-auction) platform, strategically designed to enhance transparency in the auction process.”
He explained that the collective actions signify NCS’s dedication to enhancing staff welfare and sustaining optimal performance.
The NCS boss explained that on the fiscal year 2024, the N5 trillion, aligning with the government’s economic objectives, stressing that the commission’s strategic initiatives alongside other operational reforms, are anticipated to play a crucial role in achieving this revenue goal.
He said that the Customs’s role in facilitating the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, saying that since the inception of the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) on October 7, 2022, saw over 30 countries participating, with Customs assuming a leading role in the implementation of the AfCFTA.
As the driving force behind AfCFTA execution, he stated that Customs holds a central position in shaping government trade policy, assuring that the NCS is resolutely committed to actively contributing and playing a pivotal role in aligning its operations with the dynamic facets of AfCFTA.
According to him, the zero-tolerance approach towards smuggling of petroleum products out of the country would be rigorously enforced as the Service remains resolute in addressing border management challenges, balancing security concerns with trade facilitation.
He noted that the service acknowledges the impact of currency exchange variations on trade dynamics and revenue collection, saying that it aims to address the challenge proactively by considering strategies to mitigate potential adverse effects, one of which is to regularly update the exchange rate in line with the going market conditions.
