Nigeria Customs partners AfCFTA to enhance trade facilitation
The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has expressed his willingness to partner with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat for enhanced trade facilitation.
The CGC, who expressed his willingness when he received members of AfCFTA at the Customs Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, lamented the low trade volume in Africa.
Adeniyi explained that NCS fully understands the importance of balancing trade facilitation and revenue, adding that Africa’s share in global trade is around three to four percent.
He expressed his concern about how the African trade system refuses to grow beyond 14 to 15 percent, estimated over the last three to four years.
The CGC said, “We are not unmindful of the benefits that trade presents-economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation because Customs trade plays a role in fostering regional and international bonds.”
The Customs’ boss applauded AfCFTA that started over 10 years ago, noting the positive projections many international organisations have given about the Continental Free Trade Area.
He described the Guide Trade Initiative as ‘important for the administration of countries’ focusing on ways to grow their trade market.
In the CGC words: “There is a need for collaboration in the verification of goods origin at the port as NCS has been designated the appropriate authority and also collaborate with other government agencies.
“I talk to you about the fact that we are projecting a two percent increase in the shower of rejecting over one million people out of poverty. And you know, more importantly, N450 billion GDP. So, this all sounds extremely promising.”
The CGC disclosed that his Administration has taken several measures aimed at generally improving trade facilitation in Nigeria.
“We are planning the implementation of a time-release study in the first quarter of this year working with other agencies of government,” he added.
The CGC, while corroborating on the importance of data analytics, added “We must invest in data analytics, and we must bring all our officers up to speed on the basic elements or requirements for data analysis. Last December, we made this the subject of our Comptroller General’s conference — it was a very big occasion that attracted all our stakeholders, and they were all in accord with us that we need to do a bit more in data analysis.”
Speaking earlier, the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, congratulated the CGC on his appointment and confirmation, while assuring to proffer solutions to the issues bedeviling trade in Africa.
Mene emphasized the importance of cooperation between AfCFTA and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in tackling trade impediments, and conveyed his excitement about jointly finding solutions to the issues affecting trade in Nigeria, noting that AfCFTA is committed to collaborating with the NCS to boost trade facilitation not only in Nigeria but across the African continent.
Secretary-General AfCFTA expressed optimism that the synergy between AfCFTA and NCS would significantly improve trade and revenue generation in various African countries, including but not limited to Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Kenya.
He also highlighted the strategic role that effective trade facilitation plays in fostering economic growth and development across the region.
He added that AfCFTA, established to promote intra-African trade and economic integration, sees its partnership with NCS as a crucial step towards realising its objectives.
The collaboration, he said, aims to streamline customs procedures, reduce trade barriers, and enhance the efficiency of cross-border trade.