Customs, ICPC Forge Alliance to Combat Corruption, Explore MoU for Ethical Conduct
In a move to strengthen the fight against corruption, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, led a high-level delegation to the headquarters of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday, July 25, 2024.
This visit marked a pivotal step in fostering collaboration between the two agencies, with the aim of developing proactive strategies to combat corruption among officers and stakeholders.
Addressing the ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu, and his team, CGC Adeniyi underscored the importance of this collaboration.
“Our reasons for collaborating with ICPC are so perfect because we consider ICPC as the critical witness of the government,” Adeniyi stated, highlighting the necessity of joint efforts to tackle corruption at its roots.
Reflecting on the progress made since his assumption of office in 2023, CGC Adeniyi remarked, “We’ve achieved a 70% increase in revenue generation in the last one year; paid attention to our security mandates, and we are doing our best to ensure that we keep the bad guys out of our borders.”
This significant increase in revenue underscores the effectiveness of his administration’s policies and their commitment to national security.
Adeniyi further emphasised the need to address areas susceptible to corruption, stating, “We believe that it is also possible for us to take a second look at areas that are prone to corruption and the integrity gaps by ourselves, to tackle them and bring back the glory of the country in terms of trade facilitation and ease of doing businesses.”
He expressed optimism that a strong alliance with ICPC would facilitate their anti-corruption efforts, enhancing the discharge of their mandates.
The Customs Boss lauded the ICPC’s efforts in tracking and curtailing corrupt practices in Nigeria. He highlighted the importance of this partnership in instilling transparency within the Customs Service.
“This is why we felt we needed a partnership with an agency like yours to teach transparency into our system. And we believe that, once we make it possible to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Nigeria Customs Service and ICPC, we will achieve this in a number of ways in terms of specific areas,” Adeniyi added.
In response, ICPC Chairman Musa Adamu welcomed the initiative, appreciating Adeniyi’s efforts to collaborate in mitigating corruption.
Adamu affirmed the ICPC’s commitment to preventing corruption and partnering with stakeholders to ensure a prosperous Nigeria.
“I believe the responsibility to promote the image of this country is reposed on our shoulders, and only through sanitising Nigeria as well as collaborating with NCS, will we achieve greatness,” Adamu stated.
He also emphasised the importance of capacity building for traders and stakeholders, suggesting that training programs could help them avoid actions detrimental to the national economy.
This initiative aligns with ICPC’s broader strategy to curb corrupt practices through education and partnership.
The discussions between Customs and ICPC signal a robust approach to enhancing ethical conduct and transparency in Nigeria’s trade and customs operations.
The potential Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two agencies is expected to formalise this collaboration, paving the way for a more accountable and corruption-free environment in Nigeria.
