Customs to commence full electronic automation for trade facilitation ahead of AFCTA

With the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) expected to take off on January 1, 2021, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disclosed that the electronic-customs platform aimed at improving efficiency of cargo and raising government’s revenue will commence next week.

The National Public Relations Officer of NCS, Deputy Comptroller, Joseph Attah also disclosed that they have commenced training of personnel ahead of the take-off of AfCFTA. Attah who said this at a two-day training workshop organised by Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) in Lagos, added that the e-Customs would also enhance and improve operational methodologies in the agency when it becomes operational.

Attah, who was represented at the event by Uche Ejesieme, a superintendent of customs and spokesperson of the Tin Can Island Command (TCIP) command, noted that the role of the service in the blue economy is towards improving Customs processes and procedures through technology. Recall that port operators have waited for the e-Customs platform as they complain of delay in the manual procedures of cargo control, transit and clearance of goods at the ports, as well as corruption by officers of the service.

Attah added that some deliberate steps created by the service in dealing with Trade Related Disputes include, the creation of the dispute resolution committee at the headquarters and at area command’s, as the committee’s are charged with the responsibilities of identifying trade dispute and addressing them expeditiously with minimal delays.