The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a significant success in its implementation of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, which began its pilot phase on April 15, 2024.
According to the Service, this initiative aims to enhance trade facilitation and improve compliance in international trade.
Recall that, on September 2, 2024, the NCS rolled out the benefits of the AEO programme to select importers, exporters, SMEs, and logistics operators who demonstrated high levels of regulatory compliance.
In the first week of the rollout, one of the beneficiaries voluntarily disclosed an underpayment of duties due to the erroneous classification of a high-value item. The error, identified through a self-audit, was reported to the NCS without waiting for detection by customs officials. By taking immediate corrective action, the company avoided penalties while retaining the benefits of the AEO programme.
The NCS AEO Team Lead; Nnenna Awa, highlighted that this act of transparency strengthened the company’s relationship with the NCS, demonstrating the importance of trust in driving compliance and building strong partnerships.
“This voluntary disclosure marks a significant milestone for the NCS, being the first formal instance of such in the agency’s history”. She stated
According to her, voluntary disclosure allows businesses to proactively report errors related to customs activities, promoting transparency and fostering a culture of compliance. The NCS rewards this openness with reduced inspections and expedited clearances, reinforcing the value of trust in regulatory relationships.
While Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi remains committed to upholding the highest standards as the AEO programme progresses, the CGC emphasised need for traders to be compliant, the service added.
