By The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has expressed disappointment after top officials from key government agencies failed to attend an important hearing on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) modernization project. The hearing, which focused on the e-Customs partnership with the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) and security issues at Nigeria’s borders, could not proceed due to the absence of the Comptroller General of Customs and the head of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Lawmakers, including members of the committee, criticized the absence of these officials, emphasizing that their presence was crucial for answering key questions about the modernization project and border security. The committee raised concerns about transparency in the management of e-Customs and questioned why TMP, the company managing the system, had not introduced enough modern scanners to improve goods clearance.
As a result, the committee has postponed the hearing until the relevant officials are available to provide answers. Lawmakers are determined to investigate the process behind selecting TMP and ensure that the country’s borders are better secured to protect both national interests and public safety.
