NECA commends Nigeria Customs on trade facilitation reforms

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) says key trade facilitation tools introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service, such as Advance Ruling, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, and the Time Release Study, are significant in reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and improving the ease of doing business, especially for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).

President of NECA, Dr Ifeanyi Okoye, who commended the Service (NCS) for the recent policy reforms and operational improvements, when he visited the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in Abuja with a view to strengthening collaboration on trade facilitation and private sector development.

“We are here today (Monday, April 7, 2024) to commend the Service for your impactful initiatives so far. NECA was established in 1957 to represent the interests of businesses in Nigeria. Today, with over 4,000 members, we play a vital role in enhancing the operating environment for businesses, and we recognise the Customs Service as a critical partner in this journey.

“These reforms are not just policies on paper; they are impactful initiatives directly supporting Nigerian businesses, particularly SMEs. We look forward to continued engagement with the NCS to ensure businesses thrive and the economy grows,” said he.

Responding, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, thanked the NECA team for the visit and for recognising the Service’s efforts. He emphasised the NCS’s unwavering commitment to working closely with the private sector to build a more inclusive trade environment.

“I am always glad to partner with private enterprises. At Customs, we have come to understand that our actions or inaction have a direct bearing on the kind of business environment we create. This is why we put a lot of premium on trade facilitation and stakeholder engagement,” he said.

The CGC further assured that the Service remains public-centric in its approach and will continue to work with the business community to simplify processes and ensure compliance.

“We see ourselves not just as enforcers, but as facilitators. We are committed to walking with you every step of the way in building a better ecosystem for Nigerian businesses to flourish. Continuous dialogue like this drives meaningful progress,” CGC Adeniyi concluded.

The visit, which ended with a renewed commitment to deepen collaboration, underscores the strategic importance of Customs to business partnerships in achieving national economic development goals.