The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, has highlighted the impressive state of trade operations and customs modernisation at Nigeria’s busiest port, assuring the command’s continuous commitment to improve trade facilitation.

Olomu said: “We are not resting on our oars. We are still hopeful that we’ll do much better than we did last year.”

Speaking during a facility tour by delegates from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the National Trade Facilitation Committee to the Command’s headquarters, Olomu said the visit was a testament to the significant strides Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made in trade facilitation and technological advancement under the current leadership.

Also speaking, Comptroller of Customs in charge of Trade Facilitation Unit, Nafiu Isiyaku, said the modernisation project is just beginning with a 20-year span, and more improvements are expected.

The ECOWAS delegation led by Kolawole Sofola commended the NCS for the progress made through the B’Odogwu system, which has enhanced trade facilitation and operational efficiency.

On his part, the National Secretary of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, Abdullahi Usman, praised the level of progress already achieved, noting that Nigeria is well on its way towards implementing a full national single window system, which will streamline trade processes across agencies.

The ECOWAS tour aimed to assess Nigeria’s progress in implementing trade facilitation measures in line with the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, to which all ECOWAS member states are signatories.