The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has commenced the training of officers and men of the command for the advanced stage of automation of the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System NICIS II.

This is in line with the efforts of the service to upgrade its ICT base, which is the full automation and computerisation of customs processes and procedures received a further boost with the commencement.

Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Comptroller Bashar Yusuf, who declared the training programme open, admonished participants to take advantage of the training to improve their capacity and competence in the discharge of their functions.

According to him, the course curriculum was carefully articulated to cover vast areas in the 21st Century Customs Operations in line with World Customs Organisation WCO standards.

“The training became imperative so as to prepare officers and men on the anticipated NICIS II which is an advanced model of the NICIS 1 as a major tool for facilitation of legitimate trade.  Generally speaking, the importance of Information Communication Technology ICT in the 21st Century Customs operations cannot be overemphasised. Participants should therefore remain focused towards acquiring the needed skills that will aid a quick comprehension of the provisions of NICIS II”, he said.  The CAC therefore expressed his appreciation to the Comptroller General of the service, Col. Hameed Ali and his management team for approving his request to send resource persons from the Customs headquarters for the training programme at the command.

Details of the training programme aims to provide participants with

familiarisation with different trade transaction documents, familiarisation on how to view transaction documents familiarisation with the use of the document finder operation.

Similarly, the NICIS IRIS presentation is 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, print, integrated report interface system.

It was also gathered that the training provides a template for chief examiners to be proactive such that cases of infractions could be detected and appropriate sanctions applied.

The NICIS II training is also expected to equip the officers and men of the service with an overview of NICIS, awareness of NICIS operations, and knowledge on how to access the NICIS applications.

Other features of the programme include the familiarisations on user profile menus elements, knowledge on user’s Identity maintenance, introductions to different NICIS reports and NICIS applications technical know -how.

While commenting on this course content, the Area Controller reiterated the command’s commitment towards the actualisation of the core mandates of the command.

He said: “The training and re-training of our personnel has resulted in the high revenue being generated by the command despite the low volume of cargo.  Our resort to practical stakeholders’ engagement has also provided an opportunity for the exchange of quality opinions between the command and the various stakeholder groups for the actualisation of optimal results”.

“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 will 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”.
The CAC also charged the trading public to ensure honest declarations, adding that the service will continue to facilitate legitimate trade in line with global best practices.

Similarly, he urged patriotic Nigerians to oblige the command with reliable information that will help in enhancing its capacity to deliver on its mandates and responsibilities.