The Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col.Hameed Ali says that the on-going World Customs Organisation (WCO)-assisted workshop will enhance capacity of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) to execute Trade Facilitation Agreements (TFA).
Ali said this, while declaring open the workshop on “Capacity Building Support for the National Committee on Trade Facilitation’’ in Abuja on Monday.
According to him, the TFA has enhanced trade among business partners globally as envisaged by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
Ali said that the TFA Provision entails faster and more efficient customs procedure through simplification and harmonisation of clearance process.
“Trade facilitation has become imperative for every economic development, as WTO TFA is now being enforced by getting 110 members including Nigeria of WCO that have submitted their instrument of acceptance to WTO.
“The entry to the first agreement has now set a new chapter in the international trade chain with moral expectations of member countries to intensify efforts toward its implementation.
“It is agreed that implementing the WTO TFA will expedite the release and clearance of goods across national borders in a transparent manner, reduce cost of doing business and increase national income.
“Nigeria had submitted its category A in commitment to WTO in 2014, the categories B and C are the ones affected.
“Just about two weeks ago, the Nigeria Customs forwarded notification to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for its readiness to implement most of the majors in category B.
“The category C commitment is where developing countries will need technical assistance in capacity building to be able to implement this segment of the agreement,’’ Ali said.
According to him, Nigeria has been an active member of the WTO for many years now.
Ali said that membership of the WTO cuts across government agencies and the private sector, comprising 21 organisations, with the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment as the chair, and NCS as the vice chair.
Earlier, WCO Representative, Mrs Armi George said that the organisation had designed more than 180 capacity building programmes and technical assistance to enhance trade facilitation among member countries.
George said that the National Committee on Trade Facilitation would continue to support member countries on WTO TFAs.
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