By Harriet Tornguvan, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service NCS, in partnership with the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA Coordination Committee, organized a one-day workshop on October 17, 2024, in Abuja, aiming to strengthen trade facilitation across the African continent.
The workshop gathered senior NCS officers, including Area Controllers, and representatives from the AfCFTA Coordination Office, at the Bolton White Hotel. The focus was on refining strategies to enhance Africa's intra-continental trade.
Segun Awolowo, the National Coordinator of the AfCFTA Committee, underscored the transformative potential of the AfCFTA agreement. He noted that AfCFTA's framework, designed to remove tariffs on most goods and services and reduce barriers to capital and labor, is critical for attracting investment and boosting economic cooperation across Africa.
"The goal of this workshop is to emphasize the strategic role of our customs posts, port Area Controllers, and trade exit points within the AfCFTA framework.
"These components are key to ensuring seamless trade across Nigeria and the continent, turning AfCFTA's vision into reality for African businesses
The representative of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Caroline Niagwan, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs for the NCS Tariff & Trade Department, reaffirmed NCS’s dedication to supporting AfCFTA's implementation by adopting measures that simplify trade and foster regional integration.
"Our responsibility is to implement efficient measures that facilitate AfCFTA’s success.
"This includes modernizing customs procedures through digitization and harmonization, ensuring the free flow of goods and services across African borders.
Niagwan also highlighted the importance of embracing technological innovations to enhance customs operations and drive AfCFTA’s objectives. "Leveraging digital tools is essential for streamlining trade processes and improving our overall performance," she added.
The workshop further explored the opportunities AfCFTA presents for small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs. By reducing trade barriers and opening new markets, AfCFTA is set to position African SMEs to better compete on a global scale.
This collaboration between NCS and the AfCFTA Coordination Committee is seen as vital for maximizing the continent's trade potential, contributing to sustainable economic growth across Africa.
The workshop represents a significant step in Nigeria's ongoing efforts to align its trade policies with Africa's broader economic integration agenda.
