2 weeks Ago By Admin2
LAGOS – The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi had reaffirmed the Service’s dedication to maintaining open communication channels with its partners. “Our focus remains on strengthening our relationship with both traditional and new stakeholders through continued strategic communication efforts,” he stated, emphasising the importance of listening to and addressing the concerns of those engaged with the Nigeria Customs Service. Also, a move to tackle bottlenecks against intra-African trade, CG Adeniyi held a high-level meeting with the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene.
This meeting aimed at addressing bottlenecks confronting smooth intra-African trade. The meeting was held on the margins of the Biashara Afrika 2024 forum, hosted in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 9 to 11, 2024. This significant engagement brought together key stakeholders to discuss ways to enhance intra-African trade and foster deeper economic integration.
The meeting between the CGC and the Secretary-General provided a unique opportunity to refine strategies aimed at improving trade facilitation under the AfCFTA agreement. Discussions centered on addressing existing bottlenecks and encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the agreement, given their critical role in boosting intra-African trade. Particular emphasis was placed on the role of Customs in these efforts.
During the meeting, the AfCFTA Secretary General praised the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its progressive initiatives, including the pilot phase of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, the implementation of Advanced Rulings, and the conduct of Time Release studies. “These initiatives have positioned the NCS as a benchmark for customs administrations across Africa,” he added. In response, Comptroller-General Adeniyi commended the Secretary-General for his unwavering commitment to advancing the AfCFTA’s goals, despite the resource constraints faced by the Secretariat.
He also acknowledged the critical support provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the legislative arm through the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. “The Act has been instrumental in providing the necessary legal framework for implementing initiatives that align with the government’s vision of making Nigeria the most efficient trading nation on the continent, fostering SME growth, and boosting exports to strengthen intra-African trade,” he said. Towards the end of last year, the CGC unveiled B’Odogwu platform at the Port and Terminal Mutlipurpose Services Limited (PTML) Command of the Service in Lagos, where he declared the project as a unified Management System that will boost trade efficiency.
The CGC, while unveiling the latest model in Lagos, stated that the innovative platform represented a significant milestone in Nigeria Customs’ modernisation journey, aligning with global best practices. He said: “B’Odogwu is our new customs management system that embodies our vision for a paperless customs administration that facilitates seamless trade while maintaining robust security measures.” “It is important to note that B’Odogwu will eventually replace the current Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II) as the NCS Legacy System.
The system has been developed with foresight, acknowledging that the National Single Window will be coming on board soon, and B’Odogwu will be integrated with it when implemented by the Federal Government,” he stated. He acknowledged that the initiative is fully supported by the legal framework provided in the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. “Specifically, sections 28 and 29 of the Act empower the Service to develop, maintain, and employ electronic systems while ensuring transparency and stakeholder consultation.
” Speaking further, the CGC urged stakeholders to embrace the change with optimism and provide constructive feedback that will help improve the system. “As we commence this pilot, I urge all stakeholders to embrace this change with optimism and provide constructive feedback that will help us refine and improve the system, as your input is crucial to the success of this initiative.” “B’Odogwu will enhance our ability to streamline end-to-end business processes, provide stakeholders with customised integration capabilities, support more efficient and intelligent business decisions, and facilitate ease of doing business.
” The Comptroller General expressed gratitude to terminal operators, customs officers, licensed customs agents, and the Trade Modernisation Project team for their support and commitment to the project’s success. He charged officers of the PTML command to take training associated with the initiative seriously as they will implement it in other commands. “You will now play the role of pace setters in the Nigeria Customs Service.
It is being sown here; we are going to nurture it to fruition here, and we want to assure you that it is going to work.” The system’s development is a collaborative effort between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Trade Modernisation Project team. The “B’Odogwu platform has led to monumental increase in revenue generated at PTML, and had recently been introduced at the Apapa Port and Tincan Island Port Commands of the NCS.
Also as part of collaborative effort in reaching out and having warmth reception and cordial relationship, the CGC also recently pledged enhancement of collaborative opportunities with the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF). Adeniyi made the pledge when he received a delegation from the NAGAFF at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Headquarters in Abuja. The NAGAFF delegation was led by the association’s National President, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi.
Adeniyi expressed enthusiasm about the visit and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the partnership between the NCS and NAGAFF. He said: “These are all possibilities, and we will be willing to work with you.” Also, the NCS, in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO), launched a workshop on gender diversity.
The event took place at the old federal secretariat, Garki, Abuja. The event, which commenced on Monday, October 28, 2024, reaffirmed the commitment of the Comptroller-General of Customs, to create a work environment where every officer is empowered to thrive, regardless of gender. All these achievements and many more prompted the nomination of CG Adeniyi for the Independent Award 2024.
Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi was born on January 19, 1966. He enlisted into the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as a Cadet Officer in 1990. After his training, Adeniyi was posted to Tincan Island Port, Apapa in Lagos, as an Assistant Auperintendent , from March 1991 to May 1996.
In June 1996, he was redeployed from Tincan Island Port to the then Economic Relations Research and Planning Department, Customs Headquarters, Abuja, where he worked until February 2001. In March 2001, he was appointed Customs Public Relations Officer, a post he held until December 2016 when he was deployed to Apapa Port Area Command, Lagos, from December 2016 to March 2017. He served as the Deputy Commandant, Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, GWAGWALADA, Abuja, from March 2017 to July 2019.
From August 2019 to February 2020, he served as Customs Area Controller at Murtala Mohammed International Airport Coomand, Lagos. He was the Commandant, Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja, from February 2020 until his appointment as the Acting Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Strategic Research and Policy on January 12, 2023 and later confirmed by the Nigeria Customs Service Board during its 57th regular meeting on May 4, 2023. Adeniyi, was subsequently appointed as the Ag.
Comptroller General of Customs by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 19, 2023 and was confirmed as substantive 31st Comptroller General of Customs on October 19, 2023. As Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi surpassed expectations by taking the agency to unprecedented heights within a short duration. For instance, the NCS exceeded the otherwise ambitious target of N5.
079 trillion set for it in 2024 when it raked in N5.79 trillion into the Federation Account as at November, 2024. It is noteworthy that within the year 2024, several NCS’s Commands broke records when they exceeded their revenue targets for the first time in the annals of the agency.
These enviable feats under the leadership of CG Adeniyi were attained without the Customs compromising its primary job of policing the nation’s border posts, to check smuggling and importation of prohibited items, illicit drugs and consumables, dangerous arms and ammunition, among others. CG Adeniyi has attended both national and international courses such as Strategic Leadership and Management Development at the World Customs Organisation, in Brussels in September 2016, Mastering Trade Policy at Harvard Unviversity, in August 2012; Transformation Initiatives Leadership Training in Toronto, Canada, May 2012; and Strategic Communication, Columbia University in New York, August 2009. He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and former Vice-President of the Governing Board and Fellow of the Institute.
He is also a member of the International Public Relations Asso0ciation (IPRA) and Fellow, Nigerian Institute for International Affairs. His hobbies include adventure, farming, soccer, and table tennis. The CGC is happily married and the union is blessed with children.
.
