The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is seeking stronger collaboration with the media to boost public understanding and acceptance of its Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), aimed at improving trade facilitation, revenue generation, and border security.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated this at the opening ceremony of a training workshop for journalists on the Nigeria Customs Service Trade Modernisation Project held in Abuja.
The training, themed ‘Enhancing Media Knowledge, Awareness and Understanding of Customs Modernisation,’ was organised in partnership with its concessionaire, Trade Modernisation Project Limited.
Adeniyi, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Timi Bomodi, said the Customs Service was repositioning itself to meet the realities of modern global trade driven by technology, data, and increasing demands for efficiency and transparency.
According to him, the Trade Modernisation Project remains central to the agency’s reform agenda and is expected to overhaul customs operations through digital platforms, automated procedures, and integrated systems.
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The project is a 20-year concession, with the execution agreement signed on May 30, 2022, between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Ltd.
Adeniyi explained that the training was designed to strengthen journalists’ understanding of the agency’s reforms and enhance effective reporting.
The Comptroller-General, represented by Timi Bomodi, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, described the engagement as necessary in a rapidly evolving global trade environment.
Adeniyi said that the situation has led to many innovations, including the Trade Modernisation Project, which requires public understanding.
According to him, the Trade Modernisation Project represents a comprehensive, technology-driven initiative designed to overhaul Customs Service processes, eliminate inefficiencies, and create a more predictable trading environment.
Adeniyi, however, noted that while infrastructure and technology are critical, they are not sufficient for the project’s success without stakeholder understanding.
“The success of any reform of this magnitude depends significantly on stakeholder understanding, acceptance and participation.
“This is why the role of the media is indispensable.
“As key partners in national development, the media serve as a bridge between institutions and the public,” he said.
Adeniyi described the media as critical in shaping narratives, influencing perception, and providing the platform through which policies and reforms are interpreted and understood.
He underscored the importance of journalists being well-informed, properly equipped, and actively engaged in the Service’s reforms.
Adeniyi added that the workshop has been carefully structured to provide participants with in-depth knowledge of the TMP, its objectives, operational framework, expected outcomes, and broader impact on trade facilitation and economic growth.
“We expect that the insights gained here will enhance the quality of reportage, promote factual accuracy and foster constructive public discourse around customs reforms,” he said.
The Trade Modernisation Project is the automation of the business processes of the Nigeria Customs Service, aimed at simplifying and enhancing the experience of stakeholders across the trade value chain.
