Author: Abra Iruoghene.

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, received a customised generator and a bus on behalf of the Service from the Chairman of the Trade Modernization Project (TMP), Saleh Ahmadu, on 5 July 2024, at the Project Management Office domiciled at the
Nigeria Customs Service Management Quarters in Abuja.

CGC Adeniyi expressed appreciation to TMP for the equipment presented to the Service. He said, “On behalf of all officers and men, I appreciate this gesture that TMP has done for us through the presentation of the 250KVA generator and the 13-seater 2024 Toyota Hiace bus.”

Adeniyi disclosed that the Service is aware of TMP’s efforts in providing tools and equipment needed to drive the modernisation program. He said, “We know that computers alone will not work by themselves; they will not effect the desired modernisation that we need.”

He added, “It will require human input, and the working environment of these elements is very important as well as those tools. So, we therefore appreciate these efforts you put in place to help us enhance the working environment and also improve the welfare of these officers.”

Furthermore, he applauded the Trade Modernization Project for being a worthy and dependable partner in their modernisation drive. He noted that the equipment delivered would be put to good use to bring added value to NCS operations.

Additionally, Adeniyi encouraged the officers, from the rank of Assistant Comptroller and Deputy Comptroller, undergoing special training by the TMP in preparation for the management duties of the Service, to be attentive and acquire the necessary knowledge to discharge their responsibilities and take up the task ahead of them professionally.

Mr Saleh Ahmadu, the Chairman of the Trade Modernization Project (TMP), who handed over the equipment, said the bus was for the effective movement of personnel between the headquarters and the TMP office, while the generator was for constant power supply to the management quarters of the NCS. He acknowledged the CG for his continuous support and collaboration.

…Warns Officers Against Being Defaulters 

Author: Lucy Nyambi.

The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has called on officers to honour their oath of service, particularly in fulfilling their national security mandate.

The CGC, who was on an operational visit at Apapa on Thursday, 04 June 2024, addressed officers of Apapa Area Command on the current security threats in the country. He highlighted the critical role of customs officers in safeguarding the nation’s borders.

Recounting the recent seizure of Arms and military accoutrements at the Lagos Airport and a similar seizure in Onne Port, the CGC emphasised the onerous tasks on officers to address the national security emergency in the country.

He said, “Declarations made by these people who go through our desks are inside our system. What it means is that we have an onerous responsibility to address the national security emergency that we face in Nigeria.”

“The trend has shown that there are desperate networks of support, people who conspire with them,

some of them within the service, some of them outside the service. And we have a responsibility not to allow them to bring that devilish merchandise into Nigeria”, the CGC stressed.

Adeniyi highlighted the importance of adhering to proper procedures in ensuring goods are scanned and physically examined to prevent illegal items from entering the country.

The CGC urged officers to maintain the highest level of integrity, as their actions can be traced.

“We work with a system that has track and trace. What each and all of you do with our system can be tracked. It can be traced. We can attribute them to you in the next seven years or beyond. What you do not do can also be attributed to you, so either way, we can be located and called upon to account for our actions and inactions”, he warned.

“I, therefore, urge you to live to your responsibility; this nation is ours, revenue is important, trade facilitation is important, we are getting it right on those ends, and we must not fail on our mandate of national security. So the responsibility lies with all of us to live up to the oath of service, the oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he emphasised.

He warned that anyone traced or caught on the wrong side of the law would not be spared.

Author: Folusho Adeogun

The World Customs Organization (WCO), in collaboration with the European Union (EU), Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, and GIZ, launched a series of capacity-building programs to enhance the capabilities of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). These initiatives aim to improve the implementation of Advance Ruling, a trade facilitation measure designed to bring certainty and transparency to Nigeria’s customs operations by providing legally binding decisions ahead of transactions.

The training program, held from May 20 to May 31, 2024, at the NCS Headquarters, focused on critical customs procedures such as Tariff Classification, Rules of Origin (RoO), and Customs Valuation. Supported by the EU-WCO Harmonized System (HS) and Rules of Origin for Africa Programmes.

The capacity building, which is divided into three stages: Intermediate, Advanced, and Training-of-Trainers (ToT), is to ensure a thorough and progressive enhancement of skills among NCS officers. The final ToT session is scheduled for July 2024.

NCS officers have received training in tariff classification, concentrating on complex products like textiles, chemicals, and plastics, which are essential for accurate and efficient customs operations.

In the same vein, the NCS conducted a soft launch and stakeholder consultation for the Advance Ruling System On May 2, 2024, paving the way for its full implementation. A comprehensive sensitisation program, in collaboration with the WCO and GIZ, is set to begin in July 2024 to educate stakeholders and ensure widespread understanding and adoption of the new system.

Furthermore, the WCO has supported the development of Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) to guide the implementation of Advance Rulings, providing detailed guidelines on handling HS and RoO.

The capacity-building efforts by the WCO and its partners have been pivotal in preparing the NCS to implement Advance Rulings by enhancing the skills and knowledge of customs officers. This initiative aims to create a more efficient and transparent customs environment in Nigeria, aligning with international standards and fostering greater trust and cooperation in global trade.