
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed plans to address historical inadequacies in policymaking caused by a lack of comprehensive data in Nigeria. Speaking at the 2023 Comptroller-General of Customs Annual Conference in Lagos, Tinubu expressed regret over the absence of comprehensive data, describing it as a “technological affliction” impeding the country’s growth trajectory.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu emphasized the critical role of data in the modern world and declared the administration’s vision to deploy data for sound government decisions. Shettima, describing Tinubu as an “accounting virtuoso,” highlighted the President’s strategic appointment of “tech-savvy Nigerians” into key government positions to ensure effective strategic planning.
Tinubu underscored the need for the National Assembly to oversee Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) generating revenues to meet their targets. He praised the Nigerian Customs Service’s efforts to accumulate large amounts of data and emphasized the importance of integrating complex data for interpreting international trade patterns.
The President outlined plans to turn Nigeria into a hub of export and import activities, recognizing the benefits of comprehensive data beyond revenue generation. Tinubu expressed confidence in Nigeria’s potential to accumulate terabytes of factual surveys and establish a robust public service system centered on data integrity.
He commended the Nigerian Customs Service for its commitment to data accumulation and advocated for the training and capacity-building of customs officers. The President declared the conference open, expressing hope that it would set a new trajectory for the Nigeria Customs Service.
Customs Comptroller-General BA Adeniyi highlighted the importance of technology in global customs operations and expressed optimism that the conference’s theme would guide the Nigerian government in global service delivery.
World Customs Organisation (WCO) Director General Dr. Kunio Mikuriya praised the Nigerian Customs for upscaling global service delivery in maritime operations and envisioned Nigeria becoming the reference point for Customs revolution in Africa.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu pledged to adapt to innovations and create a conducive environment for the Nigeria Customs Service to excel globally. Ooni of Ife Oba Adeye Enitan Ogunwusi commended the Customs leadership’s commitment to achieving the Tinubu administration’s eight-point agenda and advocated for a special economic status for Lagos State.
Dignitaries at the event included Senator Isa Jibrin, Hon. Leke Abejide, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Deputy Governor of Gombe State Manasseh Daniel Jatau, Oba Olugbenle Olu, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and former Comptrollers of the Nigeria Customs Service.
