The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the service’s commitment to enhancing the Nigerian economy by improving trade facilitation tools using platforms and policies such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) supported by the US government.
Speaking at the Science of Trade (SOT) Conference in Lagos organized by Ascend Studios Foundation in collaboration with the US Consulate and other partners, Adeniyi, represented by Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, Customs Area Controller for Apapa Port, stated that the NCS is working towards streamlining trade procedures within the customs zone.
Adeniyi mentioned that Nigeria Customs is partnering with the Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) of the European Union (EU) to enhance export monitoring and trade facilitation.
As part of the NCS outreach program, the service is also collaborating with other Nigerian government agencies to maximize trade opportunities and reduce instances of Nigerian goods being rejected by destination countries.
For traders interested in participating in AGOA, the Nigeria Customs Chief revealed plans to establish a one-stop-shop export center for export documentation to expedite the process for Nigerian exporters to clear their goods from the port.
He emphasized that initiatives like the Time Release Studies, aimed at assessing the time taken for businessmen to clear goods at the port, are focused on improving customs efficiency in Nigeria in line with global standards.
The exercise aims to scientifically measure the time and cost involved for businessmen to export their products through NCS control, identifying bureaucratic procedures or laws causing delays so that compliant traders can efficiently move their cargoes through ports, border stations, and airports.
Adeniyi also highlighted ongoing training and retraining of customs officers, regular engagement with stakeholders, and continuous enhancement of technological capabilities as part of efforts undertaken since assuming office.
During an interactive session as a panelist, Comptroller Olomu provided a detailed analysis of the trade facilitation benefits in the NCS Act 2023 and the advantages for ease of doing business outlined in the new customs law.
Encouraging participants, including entrepreneurs, diplomats, and members of the trading community, to stay informed about government import and export prohibition lists, Olomu mentioned that the Apapa port command is developing a reliable system for non-intrusive inspection of cargoes that align with World Customs Organisation (WCO) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) standards.
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