Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — In a bid to enhance trade facilitation, the Nigeria Customs Service has said it’s committed to fostering a robust relationship with compliant stakeholders in 2024.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi assured stakeholders of the service commitment during the International Customs day celebration held at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos noting that only stakeholders with respect for their laws and regulations will enjoy such partnership.
Adeniyi also said that choosing the theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Customs, Engaging Traditional and New Partners with a Purpose,’ aligns with the service core objectives, as outlined in the three-point agenda of consolidation, innovation, and collaboration.
According to him, the agenda has been the guiding principle in the last months since he took over the leadership of the agency.
He said, “Providing a framework for our actions over the past seven months, steering our customs activities under my administration.”
“This year, we commit to fostering a substantially improved relationship with all of you, our stakeholders, especially those who respect our rules. We recognize that authentic partnerships are constructed on mutual respect and understanding.
“Those who remain compliant and abide by the rules can anticipate a more streamlined and supportive collaboration.”
The Customs also disclosed the launch of a Time Release Study in February 2024, “this is a comprehensive exercise aimed at optimizing our processes and reducing the time it takes for goods to be released in our ports and border stations saying.
“This study is a scientific and strategic move towards enhancing our operations and I call upon the cooperation of all our partners, particularly those of you already organized under the framework of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, to actively participate in this endeavor.”
Speaking in similar vein, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, emphasised the importance of collaboration in facilitating trade and improving revenue generation.
“In this era of increased interdependence, Customs and its stakeholders must work hand in hand to ensure the overall success of initiatives that will help unlock the immense potential of collaboration and increase revenue generation,” he stated.
He commended the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service for streamlining its cargo clearance process.
He said: “At this juncture, let me commend the leadership of customs for agreeing to abandon the physical examination of cargoes at our ports and prioritizing the use of scanners. This development would not only increase revenue, but it will ensure ports efficiency and competitiveness. And it will drastically reduce the cargo turnaround time.”
The Minister assured of his ministry’s support for collaborative engagements with stakeholders in the international trade community, aiming for a more sustainable use of Ocean and Coastal Resources for Economic Growth.
The event had in attendance the Minister of Trade, Investment and Industries, Chief Executives of Nigerian Ports Authority, NIMASA, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Authority, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, among other stakeholders.
