By Peace Udugba
The Senate Committee on Customs and Excise has commended the far-reaching reforms introduced by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, describing them as evidence that government resources are being judiciously invested in repositioning the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for greater efficiency.
The commendation came on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a two-day retreat between the NCS and the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise aimed at strengthening legislative oversight and reviewing the Nigeria Customs Service Act.
As part of the programme, members of the committee toured the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, where they were taken through the Service’s ongoing modernisation initiatives, 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 provided lawmakers with an opportunity to witness the transformation taking place within the NCS firsthand.
He said the deployment of technology, modern infrastructure and operational innovations was repositioning the Service for greater efficiency.
“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,” Jibrin said.
The senator added that the retreat had strengthened lawmakers’ confidence that funds appropriated to the Service were being responsibly utilised.
“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. 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,” he said.
Also speaking, 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.
According to him, technology has enabled the Service to improve efficiency in personnel administration, postings, staff management and pensions, while also transforming its 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,” Adeniyi said.
The Customs boss disclosed that the Service had also introduced advanced technological solutions into its enforcement operations, including virtual shooting simulators, geospatial intelligence and digital surveillance.
“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.
Adeniyi further noted that several of the Service’s modernisation initiatives were supported by provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act.
“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. Our responsibility is to continue implementing them to support the Federal Government reform agenda,” he said.
