Trade Enhancement: NCS Champions Programmes

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is leading the way in implementing an Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) programme to improve the efficiency and predictability of trade facilitation in the country.

During a stakeholders meeting on Tuesday, 19 March 2024, in Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi MFR emphasized the importance of collaboration between the NCS, Other Government Agencies (OGAs), and experts to enhance AEO programs.

The CGC highlighted the need for collective effort to change the perception of doing business in and around Nigerian ports, emphasizing that the AEO program involves various stakeholders such as exporters, importers, government agencies, regulatory bodies, and customs.

By addressing these issues, the NCS aims to provide more user-friendly data and reduce the complexities faced by operators in the sector.

In February 2024, the NCS also launched a Time Release Study (TRS) to further optimize the trading experience in Nigeria.

The CGC assured stakeholders of the NCS’s commitment to successfully pilot the AEO program, which is scheduled to commence on 15th April 2024.

The pilot program aims to evaluate the visibility and effectiveness of implementing the AEO program within the NCS and gather feedback from key stakeholders.

Through these pilot programs, the NCS aims to identify potential challenges, refine processes, and lay the foundation for a full-scale rollout of the AEO programme.

The CGC expressed confidence in the NCS’s dedication to promoting transparency, inclusivity, and efficiency in trade facilitation efforts