Customs facilitates programmes to enhance trade

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has championed an Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) program to enhance the efficiency and predictability of trade facilitation efforts in the country.

The Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi, during a stakeholders meeting in Abuja, said the program would foster collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service, other government agencies (OGAs) and experts to boost programmes.

The Comptroller General underlined the determination needed to work together and ensure that the narrative was changed about the ease of doing business in and around Nigerian ports.

“And if you have observed, you will also see that AEO cuts across virtually every player in the sector, the exporter, the importer, the government agencies, regulatory agency, the customs and everybody in one way or the other. So this allows us to address some of those issues so that when next operators talk about compiling how much it takes them, we will see data that are a little bit friendlier”, he said.

He recalled that the NCS in February this year launched a Time Release Study (TRS) as another measure to optimise the trading experience within Nigeria.

Assuring the stakeholders of Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to run the pilot program of AEO successfully, the Comptroller General said, “As we are taking the steps with you with the implementation of the Authorised Economic Operator program, which hopefully will start from the 15th of April 2024”.

He also explained that the objectives of the pilot program as a course were to evaluate the visibility and effectiveness of implementing the AEO program within the Nigeria Customs Service and to solicit feedback from all our key stakeholders.

He said, “All these pilots that we want to run, we aim to identify potential challenges, fine-tune our processes, and lay the groundwork for a full-scale rollout of the AEO program”.

He expressed the optimism that the Service would be committed to fostering transparency, inclusivity and collaboration while ensuring that the program’s designs and execution align seamlessly with international standards.

“Why we do this are we want to remain attuned to the unique realities of our local context. Seven key stakeholders that are legal entities whose operations span across the international supply chain have been carefully selected by the pilot programs”.

The comptroller general revealed that selected Importers, Exporters, Small and Medium  Enterprises, Customs Licence Agents, Logistics Operators, and Government Agencies as pilot stakeholders to run the pilot scheme of the AEO program in Nigeria.

He expressed the readiness to partner with business stakeholders to enhance trade in Nigeria. He also urged the participants to expedite commitment to ensuring the potential of the AEO program, which would foster a culture of efficient customs processes compliance, integrity, and collaboration that will propel Nigeria.

“This is a collective and transformative journey we must come together with renewed determination. Knowing that together we can shape a future that knows no boundaries and prosperity with no limits”, he said.

Also, the Chief Superintendent of Custom and Project Manager of the Authorised Economy Operator, Awa Nnenna said the pilot phase of the program was designed to streamline Customs clearance processes while ensuring transparency and inclusivity in line with international standards.

Nnenna said noted that the key benefits of the AEO program included expedited Customs clearance procedures and the establishment of mutual trust between Customs authorities and accredited operators.

“By facilitating smoother trade operations, the programme aims at stimulating economic growth”.

Odii

On his own part, Charles Odii, Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its proactive approach to engaging small-scale business owners through the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) program.

Odii, while reiterating his commitment towards supporting the AEO programme, said that the initiative would contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Foreign Exchange reserves. He emphasised the importance of creating avenues for domestic business owners, particularly SMEs, to participate and benefit from such initiatives believing that the programme will enable SMEs to enhance their investments and leverage the opportunities presented by the AEO window.