Customs, Printing Industry Strengthen Partnership on Tariff Reforms, Trade Facilitation
By Titus Omajali
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the growth of Nigeria’s printing industry through improved stakeholder engagement, tariff advocacy and enhanced trade facilitation during a meeting with the leadership of the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) at the Service Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, 7 July 2026.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, who led the Customs management team, received the CIPPON delegation led by its President, Koko Clement. The engagement focused on addressing tariff-related challenges affecting the printing industry and strengthening collaboration to promote local manufacturing.
Presenting the institute’s position, Clement described the printing industry as one of Nigeria’s largest employers after agriculture, stating that it provides direct and indirect employment for over four million Nigerians while supporting the livelihoods of more than twenty million dependants. He called for a strategic partnership with the Service to improve the competitiveness of the sector.
He expressed concern that essential production inputs, including paper, printing plates, inks, machinery and spare parts, attract relatively high import duties, while some finished printed materials enter the country at lower duty rates. According to him, the imbalance places local manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage and undermines efforts to grow domestic production.
Responding, Adeniyi described the institute’s presentation as a well-researched business case that deserves national attention. He assured the delegation of the Service’s commitment to supporting policies that encourage local production and directed that a joint position paper be forwarded to the Honourable Minister of Finance ahead of the next meeting of the Tariff Review Committee.
“We have a shared responsibility to ensure the sustainability of Nigeria’s printing industry. The NCS will continue to support policies that promote local production, facilitate legitimate trade and strengthen the competitiveness of indigenous manufacturers. We will also continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that tariff policies support industrial growth and national economic development,” the CGC stated.
Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, explained that the Service implements government fiscal policies but welcomed CIPPON’s advocacy. She encouraged the institute to submit its proposals to the Federal Ministry of Finance and noted that existing concessions under Chapter 99 of the Common External Tariff already support manufacturers importing approved raw materials and machinery.
