Nigeria Customs Insist on Credible, Valid Trade Data to Enable Trade Facilitation

The Nigeria Customs Service has called on stakeholders to ensure transparency and provision of verifiable data to facilitate trade and economic activities. This came in consideration of the delays, seizures and other consequences caused by false and fraudulent misrepresentation of facts by some importers and exporters.

In an event to commemorate International Customs Day (ICD), the Comptroller General of Customs Col, Hameed Ali (RTD) in his remarks said an effective Customs Data Ecosystem will enable the institutionalization of a Data Culture. empowering people to ask questions, challenge ideas and rely on concrete insights in decision making.

He further stressed on the need for scaling up Customs Data Ecosystem in formulating strategies, enhancing the fight against fraud and revenue collection.

International Customs Day is a day set aside to see how the activities of Customs affect international trade. The theme this year is “Scaling Up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem”.

Speaking on the theme, Customs Deputy National Public Relations Officer, DC Timi Bomodi in an interview with the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network reiterated that with the automation of Customs processes, trade facilitation is hinged on compliance and provision of accurate information.

He said ‘’due to the deployment of artificial intelligence by the Service, trade facilitation is certain but we can’t overemphasize the need for accurate information.  We found out that most people try to cut costs even in our port by giving falsified information about an item.

This year theme is very apt especially to us here in Nigeria. Data is now gold, when you look at the Nigeria Customs, you will see that we have been heavily invested in creating an atmosphere where data becomes the prime currency we use to trade. Information is key and what we really need is valid, authenticated and true data. If the data that is captured is inputted in the system is filled with inaccuracies, distortion or lies, that data will have no transformative value for the economy because we can’t effectively plan with corrupted data.’’ He added

He said the Service has a robust database and has over the years, invested to ensure the systems are configured to achieve a high level of accuracy when it comes to valid data.

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Speaking earlier on digital transformation, the Comptroller General of Customs said the Nigeria Customs Service has Introduced new products to enhance the user interface and experience of Stakeholders. He said the Immediate past year witnessed the launch of the VIN Valuation application, Mobile Web Tracker, Smart Fast-Track, Tariff search using Artificial Intelligence (AI), E-Personnel Emolument Forms, and E-Recruitment.

The digitization of Customs implies using modern ICT techniques to collect and safeguard Customs duties, control the flow of goods, and protect cross-border trade from crime against economic and emerging international terrorism. Ali said while these tools are designed to enrich the stakeholder experience, they also represent a complex network of Interconnected systems for aggregating and validating trade data.

About Nigeria Customs Service

The Nigeria Customs Service is an agency of government under the supervisory oversight of the Nigerian Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning. The agency is responsible for the collection of customs revenue, trade facilitation of both national and anti-smuggling activities. The agency operates under the legal framework of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP C45 LFN, 2004 as Amended.

The Service is head by the Comptroller General, who oversees the work of Seven Deputy Comptrollers General steering the affairs of the following departments:

1. Finance, Admin and Technical Services
2. Strategic Research and Policy
3. Tariff & Trade
4. Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation
5. Human Resource Development
6. Excise, Free Trade Zone and Industrial Incentives.
7. Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)

The NCS board is chaired by the Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, while the Vice-Chairman is the Comptroller General of Customs, who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on 27 August 2015 with the mandate of reforming, restructuring, and raising more revenue.

Digitalization of Customs operations aligns with its core mandate of improving national security, boosting legitimate trade and enhancing revenue. Some of the digital solutions deployed in the service include;

Vehicle Identification Number Valuation System

In line with the Federal Governments policy on ease of doing business, the ICT/Modernization Unit of the Nigeria Customs in January 2022, unveiled a Vehicle Identification Number Valuation system to help in trade facilitation.

The New VIN-Valuation System is a digital tool that will aid the valuation of imported Vehicles. The system uses artificial intelligence to allocate appropriate values and taxes by using Vehicle Identification Number, VIN at the trader’s zone. What Customs need from the trader or his agent is to input the VIN number and the system will automatically access based on the available data across the world.

Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, ICT/Modernization, ACG. Saidu Galadima said the high importations of cars into the country necessitated the introduction of the digital tool. Highlighting the benefits to both Customs and Nigeria, he said the key concept of the innovation is simplification and enhancement of integrity.

‘’In all this process there is no form of human contact, the system uses artificial intelligence to allocate the appropriate value hence there is no human interference, that’s why we call it self-declaration. you know the cost of your vehicle and your input.  If you declare correctly and you make payments, within 6 hours you will be out of Customs control. The result is trade facilitation. We are appealing to Nigerians to make the best use of this system we have deployed and rolled out.’’ He stated

The new national VIN system provides a centralized registry that draws historical data from a global VIN repository, and help keep track of vehicles coming in and out of the country.

The VIN registration process will serve as a check for all smuggled vehicles into the country as it provides a unified database for all vehicles independent of their point of entry and provides a basis for Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to effectively collect duties on smuggled vehicles.

Introduction of Web Tracker App

For effective trade facilitation, The Nigeria Customs Service introduced the Webb Tracker Mobile Application and a simplified standard operating procedure for the use of Scanners.

This was revealed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col.Hammed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) through the Service Public Relations Officer, Comptroller Joseph Attah, on the 25th of November, 2021.

According to the P.R.O, the mobile App allows any person that has access to the NICIS II to remotely validate any declaration/payment and more importantly, the status of a particular consignment or Vehicle.

He also said, with this innovation, motorists and owners of imported goods do not have to wait longer for field operatives to confirm the validity of their documents before letting them go.

The mobile app which can be installed in mobile devices (phones, tablets e.t.c) enables the use of the vehicle identification number to upload data concerning the type, make, and model of all vehicles at the point of making a declaration to assign value for the payment of appropriate Customs duty.

Also, on the road, field operatives using this mobile application will be able to in real-time, validate any Customs declaration using the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the Customs control numbers to ascertain the correct status of vehicles and other containerized goods released or in transit.

Apart from removing acrimonies associated with enforcement activities on the highways, it will robustly facilitate the free flow of compliant trade while checking illegal imports.

Furthermore, the simplified standard operating procedure provides clear guidelines on the usage of scanners at all entry and exit points in Nigeria.

The Smart Fast Track

A fast-track scheme was developed to allow traders who have a record of being compliant and credible to enjoy the benefit of having their goods examined outside the port due to their transaction histories. The system by using artificial intelligence shows them as incredible traders and this grants them the privilege of easy and quick movement of goods outside the port.

Tariff search

this uses artificial intelligence to show tariffs due to an item. With this facility, traders at the comfort of their homes determine the duty charged for an item and its tariff classification.

The E-Customs Project

The e-Customs Project is a Digital platform and is an all-encompassing automation system that has to do with administration, payment, border management, export and import processing designed to migrate the Service from paper to paperless system of operation.

The Nigeria customs service in a bid to deliver better services while improving the government’s revenue instantiated this project which will be a one-stop digital shop for all port stakeholders to assess information and transact legitimate trade with considerable ease.

Speaking on the project, the Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Joseph Attah said Customs operations driven by ICT and lesser human interactions will enhance transparency.

“Our borders will be manned by more sophisticated equipment like drones. Cargo clearance from end to end will be fully digitized. Not just some aspects. All goods coming in and out will be captured and properly valued electronically. Revenue will be enhanced. The value additions are innumerable. With less human interference, the speed of doing business will be completely enhanced.

“The non-intrusive component of the e-Customs will no doubt boost the capacity of Customs to better police the porous borders.’’ He mentioned.

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