Acting Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, on Tuesday, said that Nigerian importers willing to use the ports in Benin, will soon begin to clear their goods from Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Customs boss stated this in Abuja, at the end of a two-day working visit of the Director-General of Benin Republic Customs, said that the collaboration is eliminate barriers, and promote legitimate trade within the West African region.
Adeniyi said: “If there are people in Benin Republic who want to use our ports, we try to build trust in our systems. And by virtue of this agreement, what it means is that Nigerian importers willing to use the ports in Cotonou can have their goods cleared in those ports because there would be an opportunity for them to pay duties on goods that are liable for payment of duties.
“We can account for the duties on those goods in the ports of arrival. So they will now be free to enter Nigeria.”
He noted that Custom is working diligently to engage with border communities, adding that “Nigeria Customs Service is currently developing plans to incorporate border communities as priority in its Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy. We are also promoting professionalism and tax compliance among our customs officers.
“We are currently in the final stages of integrating our IT systems with the Federal Road Safety to curb illegal entry of vehicles. This integration will enhance our ability to monitor and regulate cross-border vehicle movements more effectively
“On the harmonization of Prohibited Products List. Initiatives have been launched to harmonize the list of products prohibited in Nigeria. This step not only promotes consistency but also facilitates smoother trade relations with our partners.
“We are swiftly progressing toward Nigeria’s integration into the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT), joining hands with other West African nations. This interconnected system promises to further streamline our transit operations and improve regional trade dynamics.
“On strengthening the fight against cross-border crime, our commitment to combatting cross-border crime is unwavering. We are actively engaging in cooperation, intelligence sharing, and resource pooling with our regional partners to ensure the security and safety of our shared borders.
“We have honoured our commitment to holding biannual meetings to discuss matters of common interest. These meetings provide a vital platform for dialogue and cooperation, strengthening our regional customs community.
“On securing the international supply chain, our efforts to secure the international supply chain remain a top priority, as we continue to implement measures that safeguard trade while ensuring the highest standards of security.”
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