By Femi Anamelechi
The Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi has said the ongoing digitalisation of cross-border operations is a vital step that would ensures better profiling of high-risk individuals and cargo without compromising regional trade activities.The CGC made the statement while delivering a lecture on “Why Customs Matters: Revenue, Security and Nationhood in a Borderless World” at the University of Ibadan on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, saying a borderless world does not negate officer’s statutory responsibilities.”ICT will continue to help us to promote smart borders, and I’m happy with the accomplishment that we have gotten. It has promoted digitalization, it has promoted paperless trade, and of course it has helped us to ensure security of documents and proper security of our nation” he saidSpeaking further, Adeniyi explained that the next phase of the ongoing digitalisation process is the full integration of B’Odogwu into the National Single Window (NSW) platform adding that such move will ensure single submission of all trade related documents in a unified tool.He then said despite the fact that Nigeria has a large terrain, element of technology would help study patterns and predict events to achieve better judgement. “We will also be working on the integrity of our officers and building their capacity to understand what they do” he said Earlier, the Vice-Chancelor University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale mni described the day’s engagement as a testament to the intellectual vitality that defines the prestigious educational institute. “Customs is the fiscal expression of sovereignty. It is the place where the nation’s laws, standards, and values are made concrete. Every seizure of counterfeit goods, every interception of illicit weapons, every destruction of smuggling networks is an act of national self-defense” he saidIn a separate event, the Comptroller-General visited the Olubadan of Ibadan Kingdom, Oba Rashidi Ladoja where the paramount traditional ruler expressed readiness to synergies with the Service on areas of curbing illicit movement of goods, trans-border crimes and maintaining peace in local communities.
