Comptroller Aliyu Urges Exporters to Embrace Value Addition, Compliance Under AfCFTA
Author: Ibe Wada.
The Customs Area Controller, Oyo/Osun Area Command, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, has called on Nigerian exporters to prioritise value addition, trade diversification, and compliance with export regulations as the country deepens its participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to a Press Release signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, Abdulmalik Akintola, Comptroller Aliyu who delivered a lecture titled “Products that can be Imported or Exported from Nigeria: AfCFTA, Rules of Origin and the Drive for Value Addition” at the Chambers of Commerce on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, described Nigeria as a key player in global commerce, endowed with vast natural resources and an expanding industrial base that must be leveraged for competitive advantage.
He noted that the pattern of Nigeria’s import and export activities mirrors the nation’s economic aspirations. He emphasised that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) remains pivotal to ensuring transparency, efficiency, and integrity within the country’s trade ecosystem.
“Under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, the Service has embarked on a comprehensive modernisation programme aimed at achieving full automation of business processes,” Aliyu stated.
“This transformation will not only enhance competitiveness but also position Nigeria as a formidable player in continental and global trade.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s export profile, the CAC noted that crude oil and natural gas continue to dominate the country’s export sector. However, he noted that diversification efforts have spurred growth in non-oil exports, including cocoa, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, ginger, palm oil, rubber, and hibiscus flowers.
He also identified solid minerals, including limestone, lead, zinc, and tin, as well as processed foods, textiles, and leather products, as emerging contributors that could drive export earnings and industrial expansion.
Comptroller Aliyu cautioned exporters against dealing in prohibited items, referencing Schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff (CET), which prohibits the export of commodities such as maize, unprocessed rubber latex, raw hides and skins, rough or sawn timber, scrap metals, cultural artefacts, and endangered wildlife species.
Speaking on the opportunities presented by AfCFTA, he described it as a transformative initiative aimed at creating a single African market for goods and services. This platform provides Nigerian businesses with access to over 1.3 billion consumers, boasting a collective GDP exceeding $3.4 trillion.
He stressed that only products that meet the Rules of Origin, those wholly obtained or substantially transformed in Nigeria, would qualify for tariff-free access within the continental trade bloc.
Reaffirming the Service’s commitment to national development goals, Comptroller Aliyu said the NCS remains dedicated to promoting export expansion, industrialisation, and value addition in line with government objectives.
The event drew key stakeholders from the business community, trade associations, and regulatory agencies, who commended the Customs chief for his insightful lecture and renewed emphasis on compliance and competitiveness in Nigeria’s evolving trade environment.
