The Nigeria Customs Service has officially engaged business communities in it’s Zone B and D on the automation of its Licences and Permits process aimed at enhancing ease of doing business.
Speaking at the sensitisation programme in Kano Friday, Comptroller N.J. Anozie, PhD, psc, said the initiative represents another milestone in the ongoing modernisation drive of the Service under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR.
Anozie, noted that the automation aligns squarely with the CGC’s three-point agenda of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation.
He explained that the new system will allow importers, clearing agents and other stakeholders to initiate and complete applications for fresh licences or renewals from the comfort of their homes and offices, eliminating the need for repeated visits to Customs Headquarters in Abuja.
“The era of carrying bulky files from one office to another is gone. With just a few clicks, applications can now be processed seamlessly,” he stated.
The Comptroller stressed that automation would drastically reduce the cost of doing business by cutting travel expenses, hotel bills and other logistics previously associated with manual processing.
He further disclosed that the system is equipped with built-in validation mechanisms capable of detecting fake documents, thereby minimising fraudulent practices and sanitising the process.
According to him, officers can now verify outstanding assessments through the Customs platform, ensuring that only compliant companies are granted licences and permits.
Anozie emphasized that the reform would significantly enhance statutory revenue generation, noting that every processed licence and permit translates into revenue for the Federal Government.
“Time is money. This automation saves time for stakeholders and boosts productivity for officers. Ultimately, it strengthens revenue collection for the nation,” he added.
He called on officers whose duties interface with the Licences and Permits Unit to embrace the innovation, describing its success as a collective achievement for the Service.
The Comptroller also appealed to stakeholders and members of the press to support the initiative through active participation and widespread dissemination of information about the system adding that Bond Seat Officers across Commands, have already undergone training, while step-by-step handbooks and posters will be distributed to guide both officers and stakeholders through the seamless process.
However, Industry observers say the automation marks another strategic step by the Nigeria Customs Service toward aligning its operations with global best practices and reinforcing Nigeria’s trade facilitation framework.
In his keynote address the Comptroller Revenue Zone B headquarters Compt. A.A Alkali describes the processes as more than a policy directive but a promise emphasizing that “automation is not a replacement for human judgement, but an enabler of human excellence”.
“It is a Customs Service that respects your time, values your enterprise and protects our nation with intelligence and efficiency”.
“The automation of our licenses and permits processes is not merely a technological upgrade, it represents a fundamental reimagining of how we facilitate trade, secure our borders, and serve the Nigerian People”.
Alkali charge stakeholders to embrace the change, provide accurate information, engage with various training opportunities being offered while charging Bond Officers on professionalism and dedication which will determine the success of the system implemented.