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Customs, WCO, UK To Develop Standard Operating Procedures

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has joined forces with the World Customs Organisation, WCO, and the United Kingdom International Development, UKID, to develop Standard Operating Procedures, SOPs, and facilitate legitimate trade.

This formed the crux of discussion at a workshop organised by the NCS in Abuja, to strengthen internal anti-corruption framework, institutional growth, integrity, and corruption risk management.

Comptroller General of Customs, CGC, Adewale Adeniyi noted that the workshop was designed to cover key Customs processes, including regulatory and administrative procedures, clearance processes, inspection and examination, enforcement and compliance, procurement and human resource management.

"The purpose of what we have therefore been doing with our partners is to identify such areas of vulnerabilities, assess the associated risk and develop practical measures to mitigate them," he said.

The CGC affirmed that the Service will continue to support measures that strengthen transparency, accountability, internal controls, process simplification, and the use of technology to reduce unnecessary discretion.

 "A customs administration that is transparent, that is predictable and accountable, is better positioned to facilitate legitimate trade, improve compliance, and enhance public confidence," he added.

The WCO Lead Technical Expert, Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, Arman Zhalitov, while commending the CGC for its continued support, encouraged the working group to champion endorsement of the workshop outcomes, which include a comprehensive action plan outlining clear steps to advance trade facilitation and strengthen the anti-corruption agenda.

Also, WCO Programme Manager for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, David Tanenbaum outlined achievements in AEO, post-clearance audit, and the time-release study, adding that integrity does not exist in a vacuum.

He noted that the achievements demonstrated that the partnership is delivering tangible institutional and operational results, promising more engagements on preventive approach and managing corruption risks within customs operations.

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