The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi
Adeosun, has disclosed plans to upgrade the tools in use by the Nigerian
Customs Service (NCS) so as grow productivity, reports ITRealms.
The Minister made this disclosure at
a one-day inspection tour of Customs facilities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport, Abuja on Friday, especially the modern
container scanning equipment at the nation’s airports, seaports and land
borders.
Accompanied by the Comptroller
General of Customs, Col. Hammed Alli, the minister lamented that one of the
reasons for the consistent drop in revenue collected by Customs is the use of
outdated equipment.
She explained that one of the major
means of detecting contraband goods at these borders is through the
deployment of container scanners.
She reiterated the determination of
the current administration to boost revenue through the provision of enabling
tools and equipment that will aid the various revenue agencies.
The use of obsolete equipment, she
said, negatively impacts revenue collected by the agency and promotes inefficiency
and therefore, pledged Federal Government resolve to ensure that all the
outdated equipment being used by Customs in the discharge of their duties at
the nation’s airports is overhauled.
Government, she said, would ensure
the provision of modern equipment, in line with international best
practices, stressing that scanners and other equipment would be procured to
enhance the operations of Customs.
The Minister said the new equipment
would promote trade facilitation and increase the revenue generating
capacity of Customs.
In his remarks, Col Alli said the
equipment needed for the nation’s international airports would cost
N20 Billion. He said the Customs Command will soon meet with the
minister to discuss the funding requirement of Customs in detail and he
expressed confidence that with the support of the minister, the
problem will soon be fixed.
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