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NCS Charged To Redouble Efforts On Trade Facilitation

By Anne Ejuka



The Minster of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mrs Doris Uzoka-Anite, has charged the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to double its efforts on trade facilitation.

She gave this charge  at the launch of the Time Release Study (TRS) by the Nigeria Customs Service in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in Lagos on Thursday.

The study, which is a systematic and internationally recognized tool developed by the WCO for the clearance of goods from arrival to the physical release of cargo will among other benefits improve and strengthen the efficiency of customs administration and other government agencies in the Nigerian Ports


The Minister in her keynote address at the occasion said the NCS is the only agency in Nigeria saddled with three critical functions of Security, Revenue Generation, and Trade Facilitation so the service needs to redouble their effort especially in the area of trade facilitation which according to her will enhance trade volume there by increasing revenue generation without increasing levies

In her words, “However as your trade minister, I implore you to double or redouble your efforts in focusing on just trade facilitation,  this is because when you facilitate trade, you’re enhancing our trade volume, or you’re making our nation more competitive and then we can generate more revenue without increasing our levies".

Uzoka-Anite also admonished the agency to fully automate its processes to avoid work hazards that come with border operations as she frowns on the issue of officers being killed or maimmed by smugglers on regular basis.


Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi Adewale MFR, stated that the initiative represents a critical step in NCS ongoing efforts to optimize the trading experience and customs operations in Nigeria and  a strategic endeavor aimed at improving how facilitate trade, ensuring alignment with international best practices, and contributing substantially to national development through revenue generation.

In his words,  “The launch of the TRS in Lagos today underscores our commitment to improving customs operations and trade facilitation in Nigeria. In addition to TRS, the NCS is deploying the AEO program, Advanced Ruling, and establishing a Customs Laboratory as part of its ongoing efforts to facilitate trade and improve government revenue;
“These initiatives are supported by the WCO, further emphasizing our dedication to enhancing trade efficiency and promoting economic growth and national development through collaboration, innovation, and strategic measures".

The Minister of Finance, Mr Wole Edun who was represented by the permanent secretary on the ministry  Lydia Jafiya, in his remarks  noted that the TRS aligns with the Federal Government’s renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which demonstrates the president’s commitment to unleashing full economic potential to and among other states. Redefining best approaches to create the enabling environment for businesses in addition to providing excellent services for economic operations.

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