Full automation and computerization of customs processes and procedures received a boost with the commencement of training of officers and men for the advanced stage of automation of Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) II in line with the effort of the Service to upgrade its ICT base.
Declaring open the training session, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Yusuf Bashar admonished participants to take advantage of the training to improve their capacity and competence in the discharge of their functions.
He stated that the course curriculum was carefully articulated to cover vast areas in the 21st Century Customs Operations in line with the WCO standard.
He noted that the training became imperative so as to prepare officers and men on the anticipated NICIS II which was coming as an advancement to NICIS 1 as a major tool for facilitation of legitimate trade.
The Controller highlighted the importance of ICT to 21st Century Customs Operations and charged participants to remain focused towards acquiring the needed skills that would aid a quick comprehension of the provisions of NICIS II.
Comptroller Bashar thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali and his Management team for approving his request to send resource persons from the Customs Headquarters for the training programme.
The training activity aimed to provide participants with; familiarization with different trade transaction documents, familiarization on how to view transaction documents and familiarization with the use of the document finder operation.
Similarly, the NICIS IRIS presentation was aimed at providing participants with knowledge on how to use NICIS IRIS module, knowledge on how to use NICIS IRIS operations to generate a report and print Integrated report interface system.
The training provided a template for chief examiners to be proactive such that cases of infractions could be detected and appropriate sanctions applied.
Furthermore, the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II (NICIS II) training was aimed at equipping participants with; overview of NICIS, awareness of NICIS operations, knowledge on how to access the NICIS applications, familiarizations on user profile menus element, knowledge on user’s ID maintenance, introductions to different NICIS reports and NICIS applications technical know-how.
Meanwhile, the Area Controller has reiterated his commitment towards the actualization of the core mandates of the command.
He pointed out that training and re-training of his personnel had resulted in the high revenue being generated by the command despite the low volume of cargo traffic.
He stated further that his resort to practical stakeholder engagement had provided an opportunity for the exchange of quality opinions between the command and the various stakeholders for the actualization of official optimal results.
The controller charged the trading public to ensure honest declarations and stated that the Service would continue to facilitate legitimate trade in line with global best practices.
It is the wish of the Area Controller to sustain our benchmark rating, especially in relation to the achievements of last year, when the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) sent four different commendation letters to the Command in recognition and appreciation of the great strides and milestones recorded in the command.
He has stated repeatedly that there would be no room for complacency and that is why he has been engaging the Chief Examiners, Releasing Officers and O/C Terminals to ensure that all areas of Revenue leakages are identified and blocked.
He also called on patriotic Nigerians to oblige the command with reliable information that would help in enhancing its capacity to deliver on its mandates.
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