By Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has stressed that effective documentation of institutional reforms is essential to sustaining progress in Nigeria’s maritime sector, arguing that preserving records of policy initiatives and operational changes provides a roadmap for future administrations and industry stakeholders.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made the assertion in Lagos during the launch of the book “Customs Operational Revolution and Maritime Development Under President Tinubu” and a seminar themed “Three Years After Marine and Blue Economy Ministry: How Far, How Well?”
Represented by Comptroller C.C. Nwokorie, Adeniyi said documentation remains one of the most overlooked but vital pillars of institutional development, noting that reforms achieve lasting value only when they are properly recorded and made available for future reference.
“Documentation is critical to institutional growth. When reforms are properly documented, future generations can learn from them, policymakers can build upon them, and stakeholders can objectively assess their impact,” he said.
The Customs boss maintained that the Service’s recent achievements in revenue generation, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling operations were products of deliberate reforms anchored on technology, intelligence-driven enforcement, stakeholder engagement, leadership accountability, inter-agency collaboration and trade facilitation measures.
According to him, the combination of these strategies has significantly improved Customs’ operational efficiency while strengthening its contribution to Nigeria’s economy.
He noted that synergy among government agencies has equally played a crucial role in delivering the Service’s objectives, saying sustained collaboration remains indispensable to achieving national trade and border management goals.
Speaking on the significance of the newly established Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Adeniyi described its creation as a strategic step towards unlocking Nigeria’s vast maritime resources for economic diversification, employment generation and sustainable development.
Co-author of the book, Chief Timothy Okorocha, said the publication was conceived to preserve the numerous policy and institutional changes that have taken place across Nigeria’s maritime industry in recent years.
According to him, while many of the developments attracted extensive media attention, there was a compelling need to consolidate them into a comprehensive historical record that would outlive daily news reports.
He explained that the publication examines not only Customs reforms but also the evolving roles of key maritime institutions including the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria.
Reviewing the publication, retired Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Dera Nnadi, described the book as a significant contribution to maritime scholarship, saying it documents the transformation of the Nigeria Customs Service from a historical perspective while highlighting the modernisation initiatives introduced under the current administration.
He observed that beyond celebrating achievements, the authors acknowledged persistent industry challenges including port congestion, logistics bottlenecks and infrastructure deficits, thereby making the publication both a record of progress and a basis for future policy discussions.
Nnadi added that the work demonstrates how Customs reforms have become increasingly linked to maritime competitiveness, digital transformation and Nigeria’s aspirations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Industry stakeholders who delivered goodwill messages, including representatives of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Customs Consultative Council and the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN), commended the authors for documenting developments that could serve as reference materials for researchers, policymakers and practitioners.
The event concluded with renewed calls for greater collaboration, sustained reforms and improved documentation as critical ingredients for strengthening Nigeria’s maritime industry and enhancing the country’s competitiveness in international trade.
