President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, declared a strategic initiative to position Nigeria as a central hub for global trade by harnessing the power of comprehensive data.
Emphasizing the transformative impact of data on governance, the administration aims to address historical policy inadequacies, reshape decision-making, and enhance the Customs Service’s capabilities.
During the 2023 Comptroller-General of Customs Annual Conference in Lagos, President Tinubu expressed concern over the absence of extensive data, labeling it a “technological affliction” hindering Nigeria’s growth.
Vice President Shettima praised Tinubu’s vision, describing him as an “accounting virtuoso” committed to leveraging data for well-informed government decisions.
Shettima highlighted the appointment of tech-savvy individuals to key positions as evidence of Tinubu’s commitment to strategic planning.
The administration’s ambition extends beyond data accumulation, aiming to establish Nigeria as the preferred destination for global trade stakeholders overseen by Customs.
President Tinubu underscored the importance of data in border security and commended the Nigerian Customs Service for shaping a public service system focused on data integrity.
The inauguration of the conference marked the beginning of a transformative era for the Nigeria Customs Service, with optimism shared by Customs Comptroller-General BA Adeniyi and the Director General of the World Customs Organisation, Kunio Mikuriya.