By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed its dedication to bolstering border security and trade facilitation by engaging officers in comprehensive capacity-building workshops.
The announcement came from the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, during the inauguration of a 5-day workshop on ‘Rules of Origin’ at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College Gwagwalada.
In collaboration with the Alliance for Trade Facilitation, GIZ, and the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the workshop aims to equip 25 officers with in-depth expertise in trade facilitation, enabling their active participation in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
CGC Adeniyi, represented by DCG Abdullahi Musa, noted the importance of collaboration with development partners for capacity building, highlighting the workshop’s role in strengthening the Nigeria Customs Service.
DCG Musa conveyed, “So far, the Nigeria Customs Service has been designated the competent authority for issuing Certificates of Origin. Over the next five days, 25 officers will undergo intensive training on the Rules of Origin.”
Lead origin expert for the WCO, Mette Azzam, highlighted the collaboration’s significance and stressed the increasing global importance of understanding Rules of Origin, especially with the rise of Free Trade Agreements.
Azzam stated the potential consequences of incorrectly determining the value of goods, including inaccurate duty payments.
Assistant Comptroller-General ACG Ibrahim Alfa urged participants to pay close attention to the workshop’s teachings, stating its vital role in enhancing the Service’s efficiency in revenue generation.
Alfa reiterated the focus on correctly determining the preferential value of goods to avoid erroneous duty payments, underlining the workshop’s relevance to the evolving landscape of international trade agreements.
The 5-day workshop, a collaborative effort with international partners, is set to empower 25 officers from the Nigeria Customs Service through intensive training, discussions, and assessments on the Rules of Origin.
The overarching goal is to enhance officers’ expertise and contribute to the successful implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.