The Nigeria Customs Service has said that plans are in top gear to begin the issuance of
Authorized Economy Operator (AEO) status to port operators as part of efforts to boost trade
facilitation and cub importation of unwholesome cargoes.
This was made known yesterday, by the Controller General of Customs (CG) Col. Hammed Ibrahim
Ali during a one-day sensitization workshop on Authorized Economic Operators at the Apapa Area
Customs command in Lagos.
The AEO is primarily a trade facilitation measure by the World Customs Organization (WCO) which
recognises reliable operators and encourages best practice in the international supply chain.
The CG of Customs, who was represented by the DCG in charge of Strategy, Research & Planning
(SR&P) Iferi Patience, said that AOE has the backing of Kyoto Convention and it's an integrity based
program.
He said that the operators who qualify for this AEO status would be invited by the management of
Nigeria Customs for discussion so that opinions, suggestions and observations would be
considered before final selection of operators.
"Uganda started many years ago, unfortunate that Nigeria is just starting now, she seeks credibility
from interaction from business community which will help in profiling of all operators involved", he
added.
"The rise in volume of trade according to him, between and among countries and the changing
trends in supply chain made it imperative for Customs administration to review the role of Customs
in international trade"
"As business owners are interested in maximizing profit and time through lesser physical
interventions supply chains while Customs administration are concerned about National Security
and revenue generation while the Government is interested in the ease of doing business
community and the objectives of Customs administration there must exist collaboration"
The DCG also talked about safe frame work of standards to secure and facilitate Global trade,
which the WCO Council Session of 2005, in Brussels adopted.
The SAFE package was issued by the WCO in 2010, putting together all instruments and
guidelines that support it's implementation.
The DCG, in her recommendations gave the principles of SAFE Framework to include : to engage
those trends to build further capacity in the area of FoS which will get the AEO programme instituted,
to quickly sensitized the business community and begin to document willing parties. It is also to
include Nigeria in the AOE practicing counties for safer trade and international recognition and
agreements.
"As a result of the implementation of the reversed Kyoto Convention of February 2016, the
administration of Nigeria Customs Service has commence a program that will promote trade
facilities and effective control through its legal provision that determines the application of simple but
effective procedures"
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