Comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on Friday mentioned Nigeria is getting ready to droop customs duties on eligible items traded throughout the continent as a part of its dedication to completely implementing the African Continental Free Commerce Settlement (AfCFTA).
Talking on the State Home Meet the Press briefing in Abuja, Adeniyi mentioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the Customs Service a transparent mandate to drive commerce integration and unlock the financial advantages of duty-free commerce throughout Africa.
“You all recall that some three months in the past, Mr President renewed my mandate by giving an extension to my service years,” he mentioned. “In that doc, particular KPIs had been talked about, and considered one of them is the implementation of the African Continental Free Commerce Settlement.”
Adeniyi defined that the AfCFTA, which goals to create a single African marketplace for items and providers, requires member states to eradicate tariffs on intra-continental commerce steadily. He famous that Nigeria is able to observe by way of.
“When customs implement a free commerce settlement, there are points round guidelines of origin, commerce preferences, and suspending customs responsibility on items traded between members of the identical financial bloc,” he mentioned. “This time, we’re speaking about the complete continent of Africa. Nations should hand over a part of their duties, cut back them steadily till it attain to zero, so items produced inside Africa will be traded duty-free.”
The Customs CG admitted that previous regional integration efforts, even inside ECOWAS, have confronted implementation challenges. He mentioned Nigeria should keep away from a repeat by putting Customs on the centre of AfCFTA execution.
“There’s a main hole. Customs haven’t been built-in sufficient in implementing the AfCFTA. This led to the creation of the partnerships for African cooperation — CIPAC — to make sure all actors work collectively,” he mentioned.
Adeniyi disclosed that following presidential approval, he has mobilised the related nationwide companies, together with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nigerian Import-Export Financial institution, business banks, and the Nigerian Ports Authority, to collaborate with Customs on cross-border commerce facilitation.
“We now have confirmed registration from about 30 African customs administrations for our engagement, with 22 represented on the director basic stage,” he mentioned. “What excites me extra is the unfold — West, Central, East, South, and North Africa.”
He emphasised that whereas governments set coverage, the non-public sector will finally decide the success of the AfCFTA.
“Governments don’t commerce. Customs don’t commerce. The banks don’t commerce. It’s the financial operators who will commerce, and they’re the first goal of this instrument. That’s the reason our upcoming convention will start with a session that includes the non-public sector. We wish to perceive their challenges.”
Adeniyi acknowledged that limitations nonetheless exist throughout the continent however mentioned the collaboration now underway will assist handle them.
On the advantages of the settlement, he defined that duty-free entry for African items will decrease manufacturing prices, broaden markets, incentivise funding, and enhance industrialisation.
Offering an replace on Customs efficiency, he mentioned income has risen considerably in recent times — over 70 per cent in 2023 and 101 per cent in 2024 — even because the Service deepens commerce facilitation and enhances border safety by way of trendy instruments.
Adeniyi ended with a name for public help. “I sincerely request your help, your cooperation, and your steerage to spice up the remainder of Africa. We want your help to deliver this to public consideration so Nigeria and Africa can absolutely realise the potential that commerce presents,” he mentioned.
