President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed delight with efforts by the Nigeria Customs Service to accumulate large amount of data to shape a public service system that upholds data integrity at its core, noting that the first step is to invest in the training and capacity-building of “Customs officers to stand shoulder to shoulder, terabyte by terabyte, with the best minds in the world.”
The President also expressed his administration’s commitment to deployment of data to address what he termed historical inadequacies of policy making in Nigeria.
Speaking in Lagos on Thursday at the 2023 Customs Comptroller General Conference, he noted that the inadequacy of data has impeded Nigeria’s ability to make informed decisions, resulting in a cycle of missed opportunities and suboptimal outcomes.
The theme of the conference is “Leveraging Data Analytics for Secure and Efficient Trade Facilitation in Customs Operations.”
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, he added that the absence of comprehensive data has been a technological affliction that has hindered the growth trajectory of not just Nigeria but the entire Africa for too long.
Describing data as the light guiding the ever- evolving landscape of the modern world, the President said Nigeria can no longer afford to function in the dark.
“Even before we were given this mandate, we knew that every facet of our lives is woven with data. We must not only commit to deploying data to make decisions within the government but to address the historical inadequacies of Nigerian policy making often impeded by a lack of comprehensive data. Our current governance landscape demands a transformative intervention and the solution is what has brought us here together today.
“There is no doubt that the chiming of this clock of modernity is inviting us to take action. It is inviting us to adopt evidence-based processes and innovative strategies to align policies with the objectives of this administration to streamline decision making, and to resolve conflict arising from misinformation and inconsistent policies within the government.
“The integration of complex data to interpret the volume of our transactions and interactions is even more needed in international trade because its dividends transcends the determination of revenues.
“Data provides the sharpest lens for us to connect the dots even in establishing the security of our borders. We can easily determine the traffic of people that goes around a specific border and share indisputable information with other nations with just a punch on our computers.
“I assure you that we remain resolute in our belief that Nigeria is unequivocally on track not only to accumulate terabytes of factual surveys but also to establish a robust public service system that upholds data integrity at its core.
“Our ambition extends beyond accumulation; it extends to transformation. We aspire to position Nigeria as the preferred destination for all stakeholders involved in export and import activities overseen by the Customs.” he said.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his remarks, pointed out that the Customs Service performs critical roles bordering on revenue collection, participation in national and international trade, as well as securing the national borders against the infiltration of the country with illegal items.
He said that the NCS would compete and compare with other services of similar quality anywhere in the world with enhanced technology.
“For the country to achieve the N1 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) target of President Tinubu between now and 2030, the NCS must play a critical role by leveraging technology in data analysis.
“They should be able to form a well-thought-out decision after analysis, which is critical and germane,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu promised to ensure seamless infrastructure and conducive environment for trade to enable Customs to not only match global standards but to also make the organisation the best in the world.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi stated that the choice of the conference theme was in strategic alignment with the pressing demands of contemporary governance.
He said the significance of data analytics in customs operations cannot be overemphasized at a time dominated by information and digital advancements.
“The theme places a spotlight on the indispensable role of technology in trade facilitation, ensuring that our discussions transcend mere theory, rooting themselves firmly in actionable insights.
“So, we therefore welcome you to a conversation where innovation meets implementation and worlds evolve into driving forces committed to positive change,” he said.
Adeniyi assured of the Service commitment to using meticulous data management to improve security and trade.