By Ajibola Adedoye
The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has emphasized the critical role of collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and businesses in the successful implementation of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme.
Adeniyi represented by Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG), Kingsley Egwuh, made this submission at a sensitization programme held in Lagos on Wednesday, 15 January 2025 while actively engaging stakeholders as NCS prepares to officially launch the programme.
According to the CGC: “the pilot phase of the AEO programme, launched on 15 April 2024, involving six pilot beneficiaries across diverse sectors, underscores the inclusivity and wide-reaching impact the service aims to achieve”.
ACG Egwuh explained that the pilot provided valuable insights into stakeholders’ needs and expectations, laying a solid foundation for the full implementation of the program.
He opined that “These pilot companies said a lot about their benefits, improved clearance process, and cost-savings. The benefits outweigh the challenges, and the challenges are things we can take care of, especially when it comes to collaboration and coordination with other partner government agencies”.
ACG Egwuh assured stakeholders that the NCS is committed to addressing their concerns and ensuring a smooth and successful transition to the full implementation of the AEO programme.
He highlighted the importance of compliance and encouraged businesses to embrace the programme as a means to enhance their competitiveness and improve their overall trade performance.
“Most companies will actually be admitted into this scheme by the time it is launched, but the onus rests on the company to be compliant. You have to self-audit; you don’t wait for customs to tell you what to do because you know the law” he said.
Stakeholders praised the NCS for its efforts in modernizing trade facilitation and its commitment to enhancing transparency and predictability in the trading environment.
The AEO programme, designed to streamline trade procedures and enhance supply chain security, will officially launch on 14 February 2025.
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