The Comptroller-General (C-G) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, has called for customs reforms that prioritise efficiency and innovation to improve Africa competitiveness and growth in trade.
Adeniyi made the call in his remarks at the closing of the Customs–Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) conference with theme: “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges,” on Wednesday in Abuja.
The C-PACT conference was convened by the NCS and Afreximbank with support from the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
He also called for a shift in mindset from reactive to proactive and strategic is key to unlocking Africa’s trade growth,
He expressed concern that participants’ submissions indicated that trading procedures within Africa were more challenging than trading with countries outside the continent.
He said customs administrations in Africa must be intentional in changing the narrative by adopting measures that facilitate trade, especially for products originating from Africa.
The NCS boss, who is also the Chairperson of the WCO Council, said participants should use lessons learned from the conference to interrogate their systems and ease trade within the region.
“My gratitude will be full if all of us live here with a changed mindset, that we will do all within our power, within the little spaces that we have to operate.
“Either as a customs officer in khaki or in aflao or in seme or in gibia, or anywhere, that you know that this is something that is originating from an African country.
“We have an obligation to create a safe passage for it so that it will lead to an increase in the volume of our trade,” he said.
According to him, the task of advancing intra-African trade is beyond what can be achieved in a two- or three-day conference.
He said that the insights gained and knowledge shared should be reflected in the discharge of duties by relevant regulators to improve trade operations.
Adeniyi said the successful outcome of the conference was gratifying, explaining that the rich discussions and technical sessions brought it to a strong close and demonstrated the commitment behind its planning.
He expressed confidence that future editions would deliver even greater impact.
In her remarks, Mrs Kanayo Awani, the Executive Vice President of Intra-African Trade, Afreximbank, said the bank would continue to support the organisation of the C-PACT conference, which would be domiciled in its Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF).
Represented by Mr Arthemon Ndizeye, Manager, Intra-Trade Initiative, Afreximbank, Awani expressed, like other participants, her hope that C-PACT would become an annual conference, given the valuable discussions on trade facilitation across the continent.
In his remarks, the Vice President of AfCFTA, Wamkele Mene, described the conference as a milestone in the push to ease trade facilitation within Africa.
Represented by AfCFTA’s Senior Customs Expert, Dr Willie Shumba, he expressed confidence that the conference would spur enhanced customs-to-business cooperation in Africa as well as customs-to-customs cooperation.
Mene added that it would enhance trade facilitation in Africa, which aligned with their objectives.
“That is the whole essence of the AFCFTA, creating a single market where goods can move freely in the continent and we wish to thank the NCS for the leadership you have shown in the continent,” he said.
The conference had participants including Heads of Customs from more than 30 African countries, including senior government officials, investors, port administrators and manufacturers among others.
