The Nigeria Customs Service yesterday commissioned an ultra modern Information Communication Technology (ICT) center at its premier command in Apapa.
This is in addition to the commissioning of a 16-meter communication tower.
Speaking at the commissioning, Zonal Coordinator in charge of Zone ‘A’, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Victor Gbemudu said the service has embraces full automation of its procedures to enhance productivity and maximize revenue generation.
He added that the communication tower will also help reduce the challenges of network failure at the command.
He said although the ICT center is domiciled in Apapa, it will serve the entire zone adding that it will also enhance collection of Customs.
“Apapa is the flagship of the Service, it is the premiere port that is why we have the ICT center here but it is not restricted to officers of the command. Officers from different command can also come and train,” he said.
Earlier in his address, Controller of the Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Charles Edike while expressing appreciation to the Comptroller General, Abdulahi Inde Dikko, for making it possible for the command to acquire a new communication tower said since its installation, the command no longer experiences network problems.
“Two months ago, there was a storm in Lagos and the mast gave way and the CGC made it possible immediately for us to have a brand new communication tower,” he said.
Edike said the new communication tower was built to international standard and can withstand “any tsunami and our communication network will never be tampered with anymore.”
On the launching of the ICT training center, Edike said journalists will be trained to acquaint them with customs procedures in their reportage.
He said the training is borne out of the need to enable journalists understand customs procedures in order to properly inform the public.
“It is important that maritime journalists know what we are doing so that we are on the same page with them so that they will be able to inform and educate the public properly, accurately, correctly and timely and so if a journalist knows about CEMA, modern customs, he can report properly,” he said.
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