…As Ian Sanders charges officers on service delivery
By Foster Obi
Nigeria and other member nations of the World Customs Organization are celebrating the 2024 International Customs Day today. The theme for the edition is, “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose.”
The event which is celebrated yearly highlights the role played by Customs in the smooth flow of and transfer of goods across borders. It goes to underline that while this is a noble task, it also comes with its own set of challenges. The Agency crosschecks each and every good carried by people to ensure that they are safe for transport, as a lot of responsibilities are entrusted to the customs agencies. The day is dedicated to them to raise awareness about the importance of their job and how they help the smooth flow of goods across borders.
Every year, International Customs Day is observed on January 26. This year, the special day falls on a Friday.
While charging officers to be alive to their duties, Secretary General of World Customs Organization, Ian Sanders who is barely a year in office said, “While this year’s celebration is especially significant for me, its wider importance in part comes from it marking the launch of our new theme: “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose”.
“This year, we are embarking on a path that challenges us to both reaffirm our longstanding partnerships and to boldly forge new alliances. Our world has changed dramatically over the last decade and continues to do so, presenting us with unprecedented challenges, including rapid technological advances, environmental and health crises, and complex geopolitical and economic dynamics.
“These conditions require that the global Customs community take a forward-thinking approach to its work and seek solutions that are not just based on its own knowledge and resources, but are supplemented by the support of stakeholders.”
He noted that the theme for 2024 is a strategic call to action, urging us to broaden our perspectives, think creatively, and embrace innovative approaches, adding, “This is essential for Customs administrations to maintain their role in facilitating global trade and ensuring security in a rapidly evolving environment.”
Nigeria Customs Service is celebrating the day with pomp across different service formations
Picture: Customs CG, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi seated for the event kick off.
