The future of an Infor­mation Communication Technology-(ICT) driv­en customs administra­tion in Nigeria, specifically in the context of inevitable mod­ernization and reform, has responded to the increasing demands for revenue optimi­zation, greater involvement in trade facilitation, enhanced se­curity and enforcement of reg­ulatory policies and practices. This is through adjustment to both national and internation­al imperatives to compete in the global arena.
The present leadership of the Nigeria Customs under Abdulla­hi Dikko Inde has excelled in this area by adapting to this change in order to transact effectively in an environment of international business standards, while it cur­rently responds to developments in technology and communica­tions that integrates supply chain, management and security in trade.
The Nigeria Customs Service is mandated to contribute to socio-economic development with its revenue collection activities by facilitating legitimate trade and, on the other, protecting national economies and societies against risks especially in the rising chal­lenges of insecurity and terrorism in the country. To respond proac­tively to the dynamic and rapidly changing environment in the 21st Century, the Nigeria Customs Service saw the need to identify and understand the key interna­tional, regional and national stra­tegic drivers thereby allowing the Comptroller General to create his six point agenda for the Nigeria Customs Service in line with the transformation agenda of Presi­dent Goodluck Jonathan Nigeria Customs Service, has made pro­gressive efforts to facilitate trade while collecting the maximum collectible revenue for govern­ment.
Trade facilitation aims at mak­ing trade across borders faster, simpler and cheaper while ensur­ing its safety and security. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) defines trade facilitation thus: “Simplification and harmoniza­tion of international trade proce­dures.
Trade procedures include the activities, practices, and for­malities involved in collecting, presenting, communicating and processing data and other infor­mation required for the movement of goods in international trade.”
By implication, it is not only the physical movement of goods that is important in the supply chain but also the associated informa­tion that flows from the relevant governmental agencies and the private sector.
As part of the efforts of the present Customs administration towards facilitating trade, the Ser­vice conducted a comprehensive feasibility study of the entire trade supply chain by engaging interna­tional consultants, Techno Brain West Blue Ltd (TBWB). The Blue Print and Implementation Road Map developed have formed the backdrop of the technology ini­tiatives such as the Nigeria Im­port and Export Process Manual, Nigeria Trade Hub –a trade in­formation portal, the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), and a suite of Risk Management tools, which contribute to the ecosystem of the National Single Window. The Feasibility Study undertaken for the National Single Window covered the core areas of Change Management, Stakeholder En­gagement, Business Process and Data Harmonisation, Legal Framework and ICT Readiness Assessment.
The Pre-arrival assessment Re­port is a homegrown application initiated from design by the Nige­ria Customs Service with the sup­port of technical partners Techno Brain West Blue (TBWB). The Nigeria Customs Service is proud to say that the PAAR is first of its kind among WCO Customs Administrations, utilizing interna­tional best practices.
The PAAR consists of the highly classed comprehensive National risk Management Sys­tem encompassing Pre-Arrival and Cargo Management which is deployed in a phased approach. The PAAR success story has been the brain behind the new face of Nigeria Customs Service thereby allowing other countries deploy same as a reference model for other Customs Organizations. Speaking at a recent FT forum in London, the Comptroller General of Customs stated “the improved revenue collection of the Ser­vice stemmed from the introduc­tion and implementation of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR)”
In addition, the Nigeria Cus­toms Service developed the in­novative web-based application known as the Nigeria Trade Hub Portal, simplifying access to in­formation and providing guidance for would-be and existing traders in the areas of import, export and transit trade.
The portal, www.nigeriatra­dehub.gov.ng, a non-restrictive online medium has achieved a record number of visitors, declar­ing how valuable, intuitive and interactive the platform is. The most interesting feature of the portal is that from the comfort of their homes or office, would be, or existing importers and exporters, both within and outside of Nigeria can access relevant information from a central point.
Through this portal, traders are enabled to find exact Harmonised System Codes (HS Codes) re­quired, related tariffs and duties, documents, processing times and cost at their finger tips.
The complimenting Mobile Apps of the Trade Hub certainly puts Nigeria Customs Service at the forefront of innovation in technology. The application has no doubt eased the burden of trad­ers by intuitively guiding them via the classification tool, which presents a series of questions to the user until the right HS code for the product is found, thereby aiding compliance and discourag­ing corruption.
Before the introduction of PAAR and the Nigeria Trade Hub, trader compliance was low with one of the causes being the lack of readily available information and transparency of processes. Trad­ers had been faced with the frus­trations of going from one agency or agent to the next in search of trade information to complete the importation or exportation pro­cess in Nigeria and at higher cost.
The introduction of the Nigeria Trade Hub has certainly contrib­uted to the Ease of Doing Busi­ness in Nigeria by reducing the cost and time expended on search­ing for information for import and export processes. The Nigeria Trade Hub forms the foundation of a National Single Window for international trade, bringing in­formation and processes together to facilitate trade for compliant traders.
In a recent World Customs Or­ganisation WCO commendation letter to the Comptroller General of Customs, the WCO, a global centre of Customs expertise rep­resenting 179 Customs Adminis­trations stated that, the WCO had embarked on the update of the Single Window Compendium, to provide members with richer con­tent, particularly through the in­clusion of national best practices. One such best practice that will be included in the revised Single Window Compendium is the Ni­geria Trade Hub. The WCO fur­ther extended its gratitude for the support and assistance received from Nigeria Customs Service in preparing for this feature, which will serve as an inspiration for like-minded countries looking to enhance transparency and trade facilitation through the use of in­formation technology.
*Mayowa is a Member of
To be continued tomorrow

Nigeria Customs Service and the efficacy of ICT (1)