The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has said the Service will launch the Customs Analytical Laboratory.
He made this known on Wednesday, April 3, during a media briefing at the Service’s Headquarters in Abuja.
He stated that the laboratory will enhance NCS’s capacity to detect and prevent smuggling, counterfeit goods, and other illicit activities at the ports.
In a statement via its X handle on Thursday, April 4, Adeniyi said the initiative will take effect between the second quarter and third quarter of the year 2024.
The statement reads in part: “Its primary objective is to ensure compliance with Customs regulations by providing accurate and reliable testing and analysis of imported and exported goods.
“According to him, the project is also designed to determine the authenticity, composition, quality, and safety of goods, including testing for chemical composition, product integrity, and adherence to regulatory standards – through various technological-based tests.
“Leveraging state-of-the-art technology and expertise, aided by the Customs Analytical Laboratory, is expected to enhance NCS’s capacity to detect and prevent smuggling, counterfeit goods, and other illicit activities, thereby safeguarding public health, safety, and economic interests.”