The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is committed to boosting the nation’s economy through trade facilitation tools like AfCFTA and AGOA.
This was reiterated by the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, during the Science of Trade (SOT) Conference in Lagos, organized by Ascend Studios Foundation in partnership with the US Consulate and other groups.
Representing Adeniyi at the event was the Customs Area Controller for Apapa Port, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu.
Adeniyi highlighted that the NCS is improving trade procedures within the Customs zone and cooperating with the European Union’s Directorate General of Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) to enhance export monitoring and trade facilitation.
He highlighted the NCS’s outreach program, which involves working with other government agencies to maximize trade opportunities and reduce the incidence of Nigerian goods being returned from destination countries.
For traders interested in AGOA, Adeniyi disclosed ongoing efforts to establish a one-stop-shop export seat for export documentation.
”This initiative aims to reduce the time required for Nigerian exporters to get their goods out of the ports.
”The NCS is also conducting Time Release Studies to measure the time taken for businessmen to clear their goods at the ports, aiming to enhance Customs efficiency in Nigeria in line with global best practices.
”The exercise is focused on identifying bureaucratic procedures or laws causing delays, enabling compliant traders to get their cargoes off the ports, border stations, and airports promptly,” he stated.
Adeniyi has implemented ongoing training of customs officers, regular stakeholder engagement, and technological capacity improvements since assuming office.
During an interactive session, Comptroller Olomu provided a detailed analysis of the trade facilitation benefits of the NCS Act 2023 and the ease of doing business advantages encapsulated in the new customs law.
Comptroller Olomu encouraged participants, such as entrepreneurs and diplomats, to remain knowledgeable about the government’s import and export prohibition lists.
He also said that the Apapa Port Command is developing a reliable system to meet World Customs Organization (WCO) and World Trade Organization (WTO) standards for non-intrusive cargo inspection.
Recall that the NCS recently launched its advanced ruling system, aiming to achieve the N5.07 trillion revenue target set by the federal government for 2024.
Colonel Garba Adeniyi emphasized the significance of implementing different strategies to guarantee the success of the agency.
Speaking at the “Advance Ruling System Launch and Stakeholders Engagement” event in Abuja, Adeniyi emphasised the significance of the advanced ruling system in facilitating trade facilitation, reducing compliance costs, and fostering a conducive business environment.
