President Bola Tinubu has described the absence of comprehensive data as the major technology affliction affecting Nigeria’s growth and Africa at large.
Tinubu represented by the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shetima, said this at the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) 2023 conference on Thursday in Lagos.
The conference had the theme:” Leveraging Data Analytics for Secure and Efficient Trade Facilitation in Customs Operations.”
He noted that the inadequacy of data had impeded the ability of Nigeria to make informed decisions, perpetrating a circle of missed opportunities and sub-optimal outcomes. He added that the country had been hindered by the fourth industrial revolution.
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“Every part of the world is at the mercy of data and every day we are reminded of the expanding volume of data upon which our divisions must be rooted.
“Data is the life guiding the ever-evolving landscape of our modern world. It is this realisation that sounds the invaluable goal of this century that prompted Tinubu’s strategic placement of tech-savvy in Nigerians critical positions in the government. These appointments ensure not only strategic planning but also the cultivation of Nigeria as a hub of refined minds in the global knowledge economy.
“We must not only commit to deploying data to make decisions within the government but to address the historical inadequacies of Nigeria’s policy-making often impeded by lack of comprehensive data,” he said.
He pointed out that the current governance landscape demands a transformative intervention and the solutions were what had brought everyone gathered.
“The integration of complex data to interpret the volumes of our transitions and interactions is even more needed in international trade because the dividends transcend to the determination of revenues.
“Data provides the sharpest links for us to connect the dots. Even in establishing the security of our borders, we can easily determine the traffic of people and goods around a specific border and share indisputable information with other nations with just a punch on our computers,” he said.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the customs service performs critical roles bordering on revenue collection, participation in national and international trade as well and securing the national borders against the infiltration of the country with illegal items, among others.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, noted that without data, one could not plan, urging the NCS to utilise data in their operations.
Ogunwusi urged the controller General to give back to Lagos, where they get their 70 per cent revenue.
Earlier, the CGC of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, noted that the choice of the conference theme was a strategic alignment with the pressing demands of contemporaries and governance.
He added that the significance of data analytics in customs operations cannot be overstated in a time dominated by information and digital advancements.
“This theme places a spotlight on the indispensable role of technology in trade facilitation, ensuring that our discussions transcend mere theory, rooting themselves firmly in actionable insights.
“So, we, therefore, welcome you to a conversation where innovation meets implementation, and worlds evolve into driving forces of positive change,” he said.
He pointed out that the service was committed to using meticulous data management to improve security and trade.
“Just as Lagos will never sleep, NCS will remain sleepless until they meet their goal of integrating and streamlining their operations to international standards. (NAN)
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