The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the American Business Council (ABC) have agreed to deepen their collaboration to enhance trade facilitation and strengthen investor confidence.
The two parties made this commitment during a courtesy visit by the ABC delegation to the Customs House in Abuja.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, emphasised the importance of meaningful dialogue with industry players, stating that “no modern Customs administration can thrive without meaningful dialogue with the people who drive business across our ports and borders.”
He highlighted the NCS’s efforts to institutionalise transparency and stakeholder consultation, including the deployment of the One-Stop-Shop initiative to streamline processes and reduce delays.
The ABC delegation raised concerns about operational challenges faced by member companies, which the CGC assured would be addressed within the Service’s mandate.
He noted that trade facilitation is a shared responsibility among multiple agencies and underscored the importance of sustained dialogue to resolve issues.
The CEO of the American Business Council, Margaret Olele, appreciated the CGC for receiving the delegation and acknowledged the improvements in port processes, communication channels, and the ease of resolving trade-related enquiries.
Both parties agreed to hold quarterly engagement sessions to review progress, address emerging issues, and keep communication channels open for American companies operating in Nigeria.
The meeting was attended by representatives from major companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Cisco, and the U.S. Embassy.
The enhanced cooperation between Customs and the private sector is expected to significantly strengthen Nigeria’s investment climate.
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