By Barnabas Esiet.
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, is pushing for the active involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including their low-ranking operational officers, to ensure the effective implementation of decisions made at the recent JournalNG port stakeholders summit.
Adeniyi, represented by the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command, Dera Nnadi, emphasized the importance of unity among stakeholders for the successful functioning of the Port Community System (PCS).
He noted that conflicts and misunderstandings among tactical low cadre officers could hinder the efficiency of the PCS in the port environment.
Speaking at the 4th edition of the JournalNG Port Industry Town Hall Meeting, themed “The Imperative of PCS for Integration of All Players in Nigerian Port System,” Adeniyi highlighted the need for capacity building and sensitization of officials at all levels.
He pointed out that while elite operators and officers may have a good understanding of the PCS, there is often confusion at the tactical level, leading to conflicts between security agencies and operators.
Adeniyi also raised concerns about Nigeria’s data collection culture, citing historical inadequacies in policymaking and planning due to incomplete data.
He stressed the importance of using data on cargo throughput increase to guide planning for port expansion and infrastructure development.
The upcoming 2023 Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) conference, themed “Leveraging Data Analytics for Secure and Efficient Trade Facilitation in Customs Operations,” signals a shift towards optimizing opportunities in port operations through efficient data collection and utilization.
Adeniyi praised the federal government for approving the establishment of a National Single Window in the Federal Inland Revenue Service and called for further integration of players in the port industry through the Customs NICIS II system.
The Custom’s Chief call for the inclusion of key stakeholders and their operational officers underscores the importance of collaboration and unity in achieving enhanced efficiency in Nigerian port operations.
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