The Customs Area Controller (CAC), in charge of Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, has attributed the impressive state of trade operations and customs modernisation at Nigeria’s busiest port to the visionary leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi.
Speaking at the Command’s headquarters during a facility tour by delegates from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the National Trade Facilitation Committee, on Thursday, Comptroller Olomu said the visit was a testament to the significant strides Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made in trade facilitation and technological advancement under the current leadership.
“It only shows the very good job that has been so far done under the able leadership of the Comptroller General, who has made it so easy, so possible, and so seamless for us to carry out our various responsibilities”, Olomu stated.
He affirmed the Command’s commitment to continuous improvement, adding that greater achievement in customs operations are expected in the months ahead. “We are not resting on our oars. We are still hopeful that we’ll do much better than we did last year”, he assured.
Also speaking during the visit, Comptroller of Customs in charge of Trade Facilitation Unit at NCS Headquarters, Nafiu Isiyaku, emphasised that the modernisation project is just beginning with a 20 year span, and more improvements are expected.
The ECOWAS delegation, led by Kolawole Sofola, commended the NCS for the progress made through the B’Odogwu system, which has enhanced trade facilitation and operational efficiency.
“We’re very impressed with the modernisation. They’ve identified challenges in the previous system and they’re moving forward to find a new solution. So I’ll say the prospects are very good”, Sofola said.
“We’ve already heard how much revenue is being generated here that has increased significantly. We’ve also understood curbing of smuggling, which is also very important. And most importantly, they’re improving their processes, so it is easier for traders to move their goods more freely and at a lesser value of cost to them”, he added.
On his part, the National Secretary of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, Abdullahi Usman, praised the level of progress already achieved, noting that Nigeria is well on its way towards implementing a full national single window system, which will streamline trade processes across agencies.
The ECOWAS tour aimed to assess Nigeria’s progress in implementing trade facilitation measures in line with the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, to which all ECOWAS member states are signatories.
