The Commandant of Customs Training College Ikeja Lagos, Comptroller Mustapha Sarkin Kebbi emphasised the importance of integrity and computer literacy among officers of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
Comptroller Mustapha Sarkin Kebbi disclosed this while speaking on the celebration of the International Customs Day themed “Data Culture and Data Ecosystem”
The Commandant said International Customs Day is celebrated every year on the 26th of January and that it has been celebrated since 1983 by members of the (WCO) World Customs Organisation.
“My number one message to all Customs officers and men is integrity. WCO like I said earlier has listed a lot of emphasis on integrity, because integrity is the hallmark of Customs operations. If you don’t have integrity, there won’t be a successful Customs operation.
“So we should have that integrity. We should be dedicated to whatever assignment or whatever duty assigned to us and we should also move with time.
“We should also embrace computer, learn how to operate a computer system if we don’t know how to do so because very soon, those who cannot work automatically will be shown the way out of the service.
“So I advise officers and men to embrace automation and to improve themselves, to make sure they continue to be Customs officers and men.” he said.
Comptroller Mustapha Sarkin Kebbi said significance of the celebration is that every year, there is a theme to dwell on, discuss, and see how Customs administrations can do something workable on the chosen theme.
“This year, the theme is all about “Data Culture and Data Ecosystem” as you have heard. But thank God the Nigeria Customs Service have been doing its best for many years to automate our operations, and to have a lot of schemes that started as far back as 2001.
“Schemes like Asycuda ++, destination inspection, NICIS II, and now heading to eCustoms, which is going to make the Customs work faster, easy (because we’re going to go paperless). Everything that is going to be done will be done automatically.
“Clearing of goods, renewal of license, application for new Customs agency license, and everything is going to be automated. So this year’s theme is in line with what the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) is already trying to achieve.
“It is not a coincidence. Like I said the Nigeria Customs Service is always trying to be a step ahead. We have a very strong representation in Brussels. Our own Comptroller of Customs is representing Nigeria Customs Service in Brussels.
“So with his wealth of experience there, and what he learns, he can always advice Customs on the way forward. So to me, its not a coincidence. To me, it is a continuation of reforms and that the agency has been carrying out since he assumed office in 2015.” he said.