NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE ICT MODERNISATION PROGRAMME: “ACHIEVING OPTIMUM IMPACT WITH CUSTOMS ICT MODERNISATION” CGC DIKKO INDE ABDULLAHI CFR Comptroller General of Customs, Nigeria Customs Service & Vice Chairman WCO, West & Central Africa WCO IT Conference, Dubai May, 2013

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ICT Contribution to Co-ordination  Accurate trade information  Broader inter agency relationship  Enhances port and logistics processes  Facilitates border work flow and security

coordination  Predictability, Transparency and Timely

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The role and importance of ICT in running organisations is ever increasing however…  ICT as an enabler not a driver has given the opportunity for a closer coordination of the following:  Business to business.  Government to government.  Government to business.  Machines, computers and similar gadgets need to be manipulated for the attainment of desired results. 3

 The right technology must be provided for the particular country’s environment to support efficient trade  The issues involved in customs and border management of the 21st century transcends beyond one institution alone. .

 Based on the above, the role of the Human Resource becomes paramount.

The HUMAN FACTOR in these relationships therefore forms the backbone of ALL coordination efforts. 4

The Nigeria Customs Service Efforts..  Realizing the key role of the Human Factor in ICT modernisation efforts, the NCS management in 2009 identified certain challenges that could affect the effective adoption and utilization of ICT in its daily operations  To mitigate this, the administration came up with the Six Point Agenda.

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THE NCS 6 POINT AGENDA  Capacity building  ICT  Co-ordination  Integrity  Collaboration with stakeholders  Welfare

This has led to the successful harmonization and collaboration of efforts and functions of all agencies towards achieving trade facilitation in cross border trade 6

Further emphasis was placed on the 4Ps to ensure a holistic approach to our development efforts…

THE GOLDEN 4PS PEOPLE PROCESSES PLATFORM

POLICY 7

Our focus on PEOPLE include:  Upgrading the welfare standards of officers  Human resources development -capacity building and training.  Change management.  Administrative and organisational strategy.  Acknowledging the critical roles of both the user and operator community which is vital in achieving successful coordination amongst and across all parties. 8

Our process efforts in both government and private sectors have included:  Enhancing efficiency of government agencies and

private stakeholders.  Reduction of processes and documents required for import and export.  Time and cost reduction.  Simplification and harmonisation  Partnership

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We have worked on the Provision and Implementation of the right Platform by:  Ensuring the use of modern and scalable technology  Provision of adequate infrastructure and logistics  Ensuring operational and system training to all concerned including Other Government Agencies (OGA ‘s) and private stakeholders.

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Policy and adequate Political Will.  Provision of legislative framework.  Legal review periodically to ensure

modernization is in line with laws.  Assurance of political will as part of a national agenda and drive

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In view of the foregoing ICT alone cannot guarantee coordination among border agencies. Other factors would surely stimulate growth, inter agency and cross –stakeholder synergy.

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The key success factors of the NCS ICT Modernisation efforts have included…  Emergence of political will.  Institutional re- engineering towards modernization of functions and roles.  Training and continuous capacity building of users and operators.  Harmonisation of business processes and removal of bottlenecks and duplications.  Deliberate adaptation of successful efforts of other border administrations towards collaboration and inclusiveness. 13

 Development of shared risk management techniques for control, facilitation and enforcement purposes.  Incentives to compliance and positive corrective approach to traders.  Effective national information management.  Policy predictability and trade policy guidance for easy compliance and enforcement. Etc.  Providing timely access to information including the www.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng information portal 14

Conclusion ICT is an enabler and should not be a driver in cross border coordination between agencies, stakeholders and trading public.  It is the tool for Risk profiling and intelligence sharing. Provides a platform for effective service delivery. Ensures multi agency border operations - build synergy and operational bridges. Guarantees modern cross border trade monitoring and facilitation without compromising ethics and collective goals. However, the MIND SET and ROLE OF PEOPLE is paramount

for the realisation of ICT modernisation goals.

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Thank You for your attention. CGC DIKKO INDE ABDULLAHI CFR Comptroller General of Customs, Nigeria Customs Service & Vice Chairman WCO, West & Central Africa

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