COMPTROLLER-GENERAL OF CUSTOMS COLLABORATES WITH AfCFTA TO BOOSTS INTRA-AFRICAN TRADE
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, recently met with Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), at the Biashara Afrika 2024 forum in Kigali, Rwanda. This high-level meeting aimed to boost intra-African trade and economic integration, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss strategic partnerships and growth opportunities.
The meeting between the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) and the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was a significant step towards enhancing intra-African trade. By refining strategies to improve trade facilitation under the AfCFTA agreement, they aimed to address existing bottlenecks and empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to capitalize on the agreement’s opportunities. SMEs play a vital role in boosting intra-African trade, and their participation is crucial for the agreement’s success.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been making waves with its innovative initiatives, earning praise from the AfCFTA Secretary General. The NCS’s pilot phase of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, implementation of Advanced Rulings, and conduct of Time Release studies have set a new standard for customs administrations across Africa.
Comptroller-General Adeniyi praised the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for his unwavering dedication to achieving the organization’s objectives, despite the challenges posed by limited resources. He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the legislative branch for their vital support through the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
“The Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 has been instrumental in creating the necessary legal framework for implementing initiatives that align with the government’s vision. This vision includes making Nigeria the most efficient trading nation on the continent, fostering growth among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and boosting exports to strengthen intra-African trade”, he added.
Chinwe Ezenwa, CEO of LE LOOK Nigeria Limited, made history by becoming the first woman to export goods under the African Continental Free Trade Area’s (AfCFTA) Guided Trade Initiative to East, Central, and North African countries. Her achievement is a testament to the growing opportunities for Nigerian businesses in the continental market. On July 16, 2024, she successfully exported goods from Apapa Port in Lagos, paving the way for others to follow in her footsteps.
A key outcome of the meeting was the AfCFTA Secretariat’s commitment to develop a concept note outlining the way forward for the free trade area. In turn, the NCS pledged to bring these discussions to the Heads of Customs Administrations platform in Africa, ensuring a coordinated approach to addressing customs-related challenges across the continent.
The second edition of Biashara Afrika has cemented its position as a premier platform for African public and private sector stakeholders to converge and drive the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This year’s forum focused on tackling the dynamic challenges in the business environment and exploring innovative solutions to streamline cross-border trade.
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