By Suleiman Aremu | Solaremnews
The Senate Committee on Customs and Excise has commended the ongoing reforms of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, describing the initiatives as evidence of the judicious utilisation of government resources to reposition the Service for greater efficiency.
The commendation was made on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a two-day retreat organised by the NCS for members of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise to strengthen legislative oversight and review the Nigeria Customs Service Act.
As part of the retreat, members of the committee toured the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, where they were briefed on the Service’s modernisation programmes, 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 enabled lawmakers to gain firsthand knowledge of the transformation taking place within the NCS.
Jibrin said the committee had previously heard about the reforms but was impressed by what it witnessed during the tour, particularly the deployment of technology, modern infrastructure and innovative approaches to Customs operations.
“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,” he said.
The Senate committee chairman said the experience had also provided lawmakers with a better understanding of how funds appropriated to the Customs Service were being utilised.
According to him, the reforms demonstrated that resources approved by the National Assembly for capital expenditure were being invested in strengthening Customs operations, improving trade facilitation and enhancing revenue generation for the country.
“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,” Jibrin said.
“The reforms we have seen today clearly demonstrate that government funds are being invested responsibly to strengthen Customs operations, improve trade facilitation and enhance national revenue.”
The commendation comes as the Customs Service continues to pursue a technology-led transformation of its administrative, trade facilitation and enforcement operations.
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.
Adeniyi explained that the digital transformation programme initially covered personnel administration, postings, staff matters and pension-related processes before being expanded to the Service’s 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,” the Comptroller-General said.
He said the Service was also deploying advanced technology to strengthen its enforcement capabilities, including virtual shooting simulators, geospatial intelligence and digital surveillance.
According to Adeniyi, geospatial intelligence was being used to map patrol routes and determine the strategic positioning of checkpoints to make border and anti-smuggling operations more effective.
“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.
The Comptroller-General further explained that several of the Service’s modernisation initiatives were supported by provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, stressing that the NCS was mandated by law to modernise its operations.
He listed the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, Advance Ruling, Time Release Study, scanner deployment and other technology-driven initiatives among the reforms being implemented to improve Customs administration and facilitate legitimate trade.
“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,” Adeniyi said.
He added that the Service would continue to implement the reforms as part of efforts to support the Federal Government’s broader economic reform agenda.
The retreat between the NCS and the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise therefore provided an opportunity for both institutions to deepen their understanding of the Service’s ongoing transformation, while also examining the legislative framework governing Customs operations.
The Senate committee’s endorsement of the reforms is expected to further strengthen legislative support for the NCS as it continues its transition towards a more technology-driven, efficient and trade-friendly Customs administration.
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