NCS Advocates on Special Economic Zones, Free Trade Zones to Increasing Foreign Direct Investments in Nigeria
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has urged stakeholders, businessmen, policy makers and government agencies in the Nigerian maritime industry to leverage the benefits of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Free Trade Zones (FTZs) to attract more Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the country and grow the sector.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO), Lagos Free Trade Zone Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Abiola, who represented the National Public Relations Officer (NPRO) of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, stated this during a training organized for newsmen by the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) at the School of Eloquence in Lagos.
Abiola highlighted the crucial role of public relations to any organization, adding that Adewale Bashir Adeniyi’s rise to the position of Controller-General of Customs (CGC) remains a major source of motivation for serving junior public relations officers of the NCS.
Abiola, while citing the new Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act 2023 and how it will enhance economic growth, maintained that economic growth depends largely on ease of doing business and adherence to the rule of law, among other factors, stressing that the NCS was generally shifting from over emphasis on maximum revenue generation and anti-smuggling to international best practices in customs operations.
According to him, “There is no need to be hostile in enforcing customs operational rules. More so, the Comptroller-General of Customs is aiming for civilized customs in Nigeria, by ensuring that officers move away from the old ways of doing things to international best practices and standards of doing things.
“The Nigeria Customs Service is also shifting from the outdated regulations and cumbersome operational models and encouraging businessmen and traders to be compliant stakeholder. Sections 7, 14(5) and 18, which set up a governing board, funding sources for sustainability for Customs operations, are meant to improve standards and align with international best practices,”
Abiola explained that the NCS Act 2023 was facing some challenges relating to implementation hurdles, expensive technology infrastructure, continuous comprehensive trainings for officers, vigilance against corruption and stakeholder engagement, among others.
He declared that despite the NCS’ emphasis on adequate revenue generation, it also aiming at simplifying trade operations in line with global trends and best practices.
In his speech, Dean, School of Eloquence, Dr. Ubong Essien, encouraged the maritime journalists to enhance their reportage of the Nigerian Marine and Blue Economy and take advantage of the economic benefits inherent in the sector.
President of Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) Paul Ogbuokiri, commended the management of the School of Eloquence for providing the facilities for the training programme and urged maritime journalists to update and upgrade their reportorial skills.
The training was facilitated with the support from the NCS, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the School of Eloquence.
