Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has intensified efforts to boost small-scale cross-border trade following a strategic engagement with the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat on the implementation of the Simplified Trade Regime, STR.
The meeting, held at the NCS headquarters in Abuja, focused on aligning Nigeria’s framework with continental standards to ease trade processes for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, and informal traders.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Ms. Caroline Niagwan, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to trade facilitation.
“Our goal is to make trade easier, more transparent, and inclusive for small-scale traders, while ensuring compliance with national and regional trade regulations,” Niagwan said.
Leading the AfCFTA delegation, Pedro Estevao highlighted Nigeria’s strategic importance, noting that the country has been designated as the pilot for the Simplified Trade Regime in West Africa.
“Nigeria’s position as the largest market in the region places it at a strategic advantage in driving inclusive trade and regional economic growth,” he stated.
During the engagement, the NCS presented its draft Standard Operating Procedure, SOP, for STR implementation, outlining simplified customs processes for informal cross-border trade, passenger baggage, and low-value e-commerce transactions.
The framework incorporates digital declaration systems and risk-based controls to enhance efficiency and compliance.
Also speaking, AfCFTA consultant, Nabil Zibani, stressed the need for accessible systems to support MSMEs.
“Simplified, transparent, and accessible procedures are critical to enabling small businesses participate effectively in regional trade,” he said.
Deliberations identified key areas of alignment between Nigeria’s SOP and the continental framework, including simplified documentation and procedures, digital platforms for customs declaration and clearance, adoption of de minimis thresholds for low-value goods, and promotion of inclusive trade, especially for women and MSMEs
Both parties agreed to sustain technical collaboration to refine implementation strategies and address operational challenges, ensuring seamless integration between national and AfCFTA frameworks.
