Customs To Launch Time Release Study Next Month
. Mulls New Pact With Aviation Agencies
. Begins Enforcement Of Due Diligence Operations At Seaports, Borders
By Fredrick Wright
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will in February 2024, launch a Time Release Study (TRS), to optimize processes and reduce the time it takes for goods to be released at the seaports and land borders across the country.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who disclosed this at the International Customs Day 2024, in Lagos, said the new innovation will further facilitate trade and promote ease of doing business in the country.
Calling for stakeholders’ support towards achieving the set objectives, Adeniyi assured of his commitment to the three point agenda – Consolidation, Innovation and Collaboration.
He said his administration is dedicated to consolidating efforts, deploying innovative solutions and strengthening collaborations to enhance the effectiveness of Nigeria Customs operations.
“In February, We will be launching the Time Released Study (TRS). This is a comprehensive exercise aimed at optimizing processes and reducing the time it takes for goods to be released in our ports and border stations. This study is a scientific and strategic move towards enhancing our operations,” he said.
Also, he said, the authorized economic operator programme implementation will reach advanced stages in the next few weeks, saying, “This will be followed by the introduction of the advanced ruling additional to the establishment of the Customs laboratories we commence with the workshop shadowed in Abuja next week. These initiatives represent concrete steps towards strengthening our relationship with our stakeholders to sample towards improving efficiency”, he said.
“In addition to these initiatives, we are actively engaged in the Colibri projects, an initiative that is funded by the European Union and implemented in the Western Central Africa as well as in some Latin American countries and the Caribbean. This project is strategically focused on the monitoring and control of general aviation, with the overarching aim of enhancing the capacity of law enforcement administrations and competent authorities in this specific transportation sector,”
He said the memorandum of cooperation will be proposed in the coming weeks among key government agencies operating within the aviation sector.
This collective undertaking, he said, represents concrete steps towards optimizing enforcement capacities and fostering effective collaboration with stakeholders, including the specific objectives as outlined in the Colibri projects.
He assured the stakeholders, “that the Lagos continental declaration document is presently undergoing implementations, while initial measures, including the resolution of possible alerts, reduction of customs checkpoints and improvement of officers conducts have actively become additional components of the declaration, and would be pursued with vigour and we anticipate completing due diligence by the end of the first quarter of this year.”
According to him, the recent seizure is a direct result of effective collaboration between agencies is a testament to the potential of interagency partnerships.It showcases the success achievable when government agencies collaborate.
Secretary General, World Customs Organization (WCO) Ian Sauders, said the Customs aspire to actively seek and establish new connections with a diverse range of stakeholders, including financial institutions, environmental organizations, NGOs, and academic institutions.
He said incorporating a broad spectrum of voices and perspectives into Customs strategies is paramount, as it ensures that the strategies are comprehensive and resonate more deeply with the global community.
“As we consider the enablers of our engagement, we must recognize the value of cutting edge technology and data analytics. These tools will enhance our understanding and interaction with partners, increasing our responsiveness and effectiveness,” he stated.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said the recent passage of the Nigerian Customs Act 2023 creates a favourable environment for trade, as It recognises opportunities, addresses challenges, and encourages partnership between the public and private sectors.
“In this era of increased interdependence, Customs and its stakeholders must work hand in hand to ensure the overall success of initiatives that will help unlock the immense potential of collaboration and increase revenue generation,” he said.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Dois Uzoka-Anite represented by the Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni, said, “it is now very clear and evident that Nigeria can no longer depend on oil alone, and so trade particularly exportation of non oil exports, and the repatriation of the export process holds the key to revitalization of the economy, and it will engender economic growth and development and helps us to organize the value of our currency.”
