…As Zones ‘B’, ‘D’ Hold Stakeholders Sensitisation in Kano
Author: Muhammad Bashir.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has advanced the implementation of the Nigeria Customs Service’s One-Stop Shop platform, with Zones ‘B’ and ‘D’ jointly conducting a sensitisation in Kano to deepen stakeholder understanding and drive uniform adoption.
The position was conveyed on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, at the programme held at Bristol Palace Hotel, Kano, by the Coordinator of Zone ‘B’, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Nsikan Umoh, who represented the Comptroller-General as Special Guest of Honour.
Addressing officers and stakeholders from both zones, ACG Umoh said the One-Stop Shop was introduced to institutionalise a coordinated, rule-based mechanism for resolving disputes arising from non-compliant declarations.
“The platform integrates relevant Customs units and partner government agencies into a unified process. It eliminates fragmentation in dispute resolution, enhances transparency and promotes accountability,” she said.
She noted that the reform aligns with global best practices and Nigeria’s commitments under the World Trade Organisation Trade Facilitation Agreement, while supporting the Federal Government’s priorities on ease of doing business and trade competitiveness.
According to her, the initiative is designed to shorten dispute-resolution timelines, limit discretionary interventions, and strengthen stakeholder confidence in Customs processes.
“This engagement marks an important step in consolidating reforms under the 2026 strategic direction of the Comptroller-General,” she added, urging stakeholders across Zones ‘B’ and ‘D’ to participate actively and provide feedback to ensure consistent implementation.
In his welcome remarks, the Acting Customs Area Controller of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Adamu, described Kano as a strategic commercial hub and a fitting venue for the joint engagement.
He recalled that the OSS platform was formally inaugurated at the national level on 13 February 2026 in Lagos by the Comptroller-General of Customs, noting that it marks a shift from fragmented desk-based interventions to coordinated risk management.
“The OSS is not merely a procedural adjustment; it is a structured improvement in risk management and trade facilitation under the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023,” DC Adamu said.
A representative of the Kano State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture described the initiative as consistent with international best practice and affirmed the business community’s readiness to support its implementation.
Similarly, a representative of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, Richard Bassey, said that predictable and efficient systems are critical for attracting investors and expressed confidence that the One-Stop Shop would strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness.
The Chairman of Customs Licensed Agents, Kano Chapter, Hafiz Rilwan, said the centralised framework would reduce the need to move between multiple desks to resolve documentation issues, describing it as a step towards improved compliance and operational efficiency.
