Hameed Ali, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has addressed the concerns of officers and staff who fear that ongoing modernization programs may result in job losses, assuring them that there are no such plans.

On the contrary, Ali emphasized the need to increase the NCS’s workforce from 16,000 to 30,000. He provided this assurance during the unveiling of the project management office for the NCS’s service modernization project.

Ali explained that the NCS, with its significant responsibilities in border control, aims to leverage technology and upgrade its operations to achieve global competitiveness.

The modernization journey began in 2015, driven by the recognition of the importance of better infrastructure and becoming a data-driven organization.

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Ali praised the determination, resilience, and foresight of the NCS in pursuing the modernization project.

Madakin Lokoja, the Chairman of Trade Modernization Project Limited, also spoke at the event, highlighting that the project is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

The company will invest $3.2 billion over 20 years, which is expected to generate over $200 billion in revenue for the Federal Government. T

he first phase of the project, with a financing of $300 million and a $9 million performance bond, has already been secured.

Lokoja emphasized that a significant portion of the investment will go towards enhancing the NCS’s capabilities and ensuring business continuity.