The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has resolved to secure its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) system from internal and external hacking.
In a 12-point communique issued at the end of the 2012 Comptroller-General’s Conference in Katsina, the NCS said that it was aware of the “grave danger’’ cyber crime posed to national security agencies’ information management system.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has resolved to secure its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) system from internal and external hacking.
In a 12-point communique issued at the end of the 2012 Comptroller-General’s Conference in Katsina, the NCS said that it was aware of the “grave danger’’ cyber crime posed to national security agencies’ information management system.
The conference which ended last weekend and which had the theme “Customs Connects: Borders Divide’’ deliberated on cyber security and digital forensics, among other issues.
The communique noted the negative perception of the NCS by the media and senior government officials and resolved to build stronger relationships with all stakeholders.
It, however, observed that such negative perception was predicated on low awareness “of the modernisation and transformation the service was undergoing’’ under its present leadership.
On trade facilitation, the NCS reiterated its resolve to cooperate and collaborate with other government agencies involved in international trade.
It also pledged to enhance the security of the international trade supply chain by ensuring movement of legitimate people and goods through the introduction of the Single Window clearance process.
It added that the introduction of the Single Window system would encourage the development of a one-stop shop for importers and licensed customs agents.
The conference pledged to ensure the use of intelligence-driven border control measures to combat smuggling and other criminal activities at the nation’s borders.
In addition, it promised to sustain the Customs Community Relations Committee at the border posts and to enhance inter-agency cooperation between Customs and other relevant strategic agencies.
On the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Bill currently before the National Assembly, the communique resolved to “vigorously follow up’’ on its passage.
The bill, which aims at repealing the CEMA Act 2004 and to enact the Nigeria Customs Service Act, has drawn mixed reactions from some key stakeholders.
For instance, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, whose ministry currently supervises the Customs, had criticised some provisions of the bill.
She had said that the current bill “vests too much powers’’ in the customs at the expense of the president and the minister.
Okonjo-Iweala had told a public hearing on the bill on November 5, organised by the Senate Committee on Customs, that she supported the need for a review of the Customs Act, but cautioned that that bill as presently packaged, would not augur well for the economic development of Nigeria, if passed and signed into law.
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