BY Felix Mordi
A three-day Technology Conference and Exhibition,
organized by the World Customs OrganisatioWCO), commenced on Wednesday,
January 28 2026, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in
the United Arab Emirates, with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
reaffirming its commitment to technology-driven border management and
international cooperation.
Titled: “Customs Agility in a Complex World: Securing
and Facilitating Trade through Innovation,” brought together Customs
administrations, technology providers, policymakers and industry leaders
from across the globe to examine how innovation can strengthen border
security while facilitating legitimate trade.
Nigeria’s participation in the high-level event
underscores the Service’s ongoing trade modernisation drive and its
alignment with global best practices in Customs administration,
particularly in data exchange, digitalisation, and intelligence-led
enforcement.
Speaking during a panel session on this year’s theme,
the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, who is also
the Chairperson of the WCO Council, emphasised the importance of
structured international collaboration in addressing emerging
cross-border challenges.
According to the CGC, “Our experience has shown that
robust engagement with international organisations, such as INTERPOL,
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Universal Postal
Union, creates opportunities for deeper cooperation, especially in
tracking criminal networks, protecting intellectual property and
managing emerging trade risks.”
He noted that enhanced data exchange and stronger
governance frameworks remain critical to addressing global challenges,
such as cargo diversion along transit corridors.
“Diversion of goods in transit is not a challenge
unique to Nigeria; it is a global issue that requires coordinated
Customs-to-Customs cooperation. Through existing WCO instruments and
mutual administrative assistance frameworks, Customs administrations can
more effectively investigate offences and ensure that goods reach their
intended destinations,” Adeniyi said.
The CGC also commended the innovative solutions
showcased at the conference, citing a digital humanitarian corridor
solution presented by the UAE as a practical tool to improve the
movement of relief consignments.
“I saw a tool today, developed by the UAE, that creates
a digital humanitarian corridor. If scaled across the global Customs
community, it can significantly enhance our ability to move humanitarian
goods efficiently within a fully digitalised environment,” he added.
The Comptroller-General of Customs further noted that
the global Customs response to evolving border challenges has been
shaped by a coordinated framework of standards and practical tools,
developed over time, with technology remaining at the core of these
interventions.
According to him, organisational agility goes beyond
the deployment of systems and platforms, as it requires the capacity to
absorb change, respond to emerging risks and continuously adapt
operational approaches.
“Technology has been central to the work of the WCO and
Customs administrations worldwide, and the progress recorded by UAE
Customs across various operational areas demonstrates what is achievable
when innovation is fully embraced,” he said.
CGC Adeniyi, however, stressed that sustainable
modernisation must be supported by deliberate investment in human
capital renewal, noting that Customs administrations across WCO member
states are confronting generational transitions, as experienced officers
exit the system.
He emphasised that building the skills and capacity of
the next generation of officers is critical to maximising the benefits
of technology and sustaining long-term institutional effectiveness.
The General Manager of the Trade Modernisation Project
(TMP) Team, Ahmed Ogun Sola, represented TMP at a panel session, with
the theme: “Above the Clouds: Enhancing Customs Security through Cloud
Computing and Data Analytics,”
Representing the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Team
at a panel session, with the theme: “Above the Clouds: Enhancing
Customs Security through Cloud Computing and Data Analytics,” the
General Manager, Ahmed Ogun Sola, during which discussions were focused
on leveraging cloud-based infrastructure and advanced analytics to
strengthen risk management, improve compliance and enhance Customs
security.
Nabil Mustapha, the software development lead, also
from TMP, did a tech talk on the evolution of national trade systems,
focusing on three key areas: secure architectures, seamless user
experience, and beneficial outcomes.
At the exhibition site, TMP also had a booth showcasing
the work done to modernise customs operations in Nigeria, highlighting
the indigenous custom-made B’odogwu application and other technology
solutions that brought together all parties involved in the trade
ecosystem and eased the work for Customs officers and stakeholders.
The opening ceremony of the conference featured remarks
by senior UAE officials, including the Chairman of the Federal
Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, Ali
Mohammed Al Shamsi.
Al Shamsi highlighted the role of artificial
intelligence, data analytics and smart monitoring systems in achieving
secure and seamless trade, while the Director-General of Customs and
Port Security, Ahmed Abdullah bin Lahaj Al Falasi, outlined future
pillars of Customs development, anchored on technology, human capacity
and inter-agency integration.
In his address, the Secretary-General of the WCO, Ian
Saunders, stressed that Customs administrations remain central to global
economic and social prosperity, noting that innovation is essential for
managing evolving border threats, securing supply chains and
facilitating legitimate trade.
The conference featured panel discussions, case studies
and live demonstrations, all focusing on risk management, innovative
scanning technologies, cybersecurity, e-commerce, cloud computing and
sustainable Customs operations, alongside an exhibition showcasing
next-generation solutions for border management.
NCS and TMP Limited’s active participation in the
conference reflected a continued resolve to modernise operations,
strengthen international partnerships, and deploy innovation to achieve
efficient, secure, and globally aligned trade facilitation.
Beyond exhibition presence, the TMP and NCS team
actively participated in the conference’s Hackathon, collaborating with
global Customs and technology experts, to explore practical,
innovation-led responses to emerging trade and border challenges.
The exercise provided an opportunity to demonstrate
Nigeria’s growing capacity to contribute to global Customs technology
solutions rather than merely adopt them.
No comments:
Post a Comment