BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has extended its olive tree to the United Bank for Africa, UBA, in a bid to deepen the implementation of National Single Window, NSW, advance trade facilitation and support key digital transformation initiatives.
NSW is a digital platform that incorporates importers, exporters, NCS and other relevant regulatory agencies into one coordinated trade compliance system, targeted at streamlining trade processes, reducing bottlenecks, and increasing transparency to position Nigeria for unprecedented economic growth.
During a high-level meeting at the Service Headquarters in Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC, Adewale Adeniyi described the partnership as a critical component of the Service's ongoing modernisation agenda.
The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation in financial integration, technology-driven Customs operations and the successful implementation of the NSW, a flagship Federal Government initiative aimed at simplifying trade processes and improving inter-agency coordination.
Adeniyi stated that the collaboration with financial institutions is essential to improving operational efficiency and delivering seamless services to traders and other stakeholders, adding that the NSW represents a transformative platform that will connect all government agencies involved in international trade.
He maintained that the success of NSW depends on sustained collaboration between the public and private sectors, just as he commended the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its contributions to youth development and entrepreneurship across Africa.
Leading the UBA delegation, the bank's Executive Director of Treasury, Beatrice Apkan pledged the institution's commitment to supporting the NCS through enhanced financial integration and technological collaboration.
She said that UBA remains committed to supporting the successful implementation of the NSW to improve trade efficiency, facilitate seamless transactions and strengthen inter-agency collaboration.
In a related development, the CGC endorsed the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, Customs Modernisation Project, a move that ushered in the signing of a 20-year Public-Private Partnership, PPP, Agreement between the AfCFTA Secretariat and Bergmans Security.
The CGC described the lack of harmonised technology among African Customs administrations as a major impediment to the implementation of the continental trade agreement.
He said: “We are indeed delighted because one of the major obstacles that we have faced in this journey of implementation of AfCFTA is the interoperability of our systems. All the Customs administrations cannot operate at the same level, but when we have interoperability, it becomes easier for us all to hook up to one system and get trade facilitation done," Adeniyi said.
Adeniyi accepted the selection of Bergmans Security to drive the initiative, describing it as a significant milestone for Nigeria's customs modernisation journey and a recognition of the country's digital transformation efforts.
“We are delighted that it is a Nigerian company that has been given this platform to extend what they have been doing to the rest of Africa and for us to achieve trade facilitation and the implementation of the AfCFTA," he added.
The Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene hinted that the Secretariat adopted Nigeria's customs modernisation model after observing the country's success in deploying digital technologies that have enhanced revenue collection and improved operational efficiency.
"Today, as we speak Nigeria is benefiting from the deployment of these technologies. The Continent has a lot to gain from the model that was introduced here in Nigeria. So that's why we signed the MOU. We believe that the partnership with Bergaman Security will enable us to reach our objective of creating a continental, modern, interoperable Customs system that will ensure that all our economic operators benefit from an expanded market," Mene said.
The AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project is expected to strengthen customs cooperation among member states through harmonised digital platforms, enhance trade facilitation, optimise revenue collection, and accelerate the full implementation of the AfCFTA by creating a more efficient and integrated continental trading environment.
Comments
Post a Comment