In a significant move to enhance intra-African trade, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, met with AfCFTA Secretary General, Wamkele Mene, at the Biashara Afrika 2024 forum in Kigali, Rwanda.
This high-level engagement aimed to refine strategies for improving trade facilitation under the AfCFTA agreement.
Key Discussion Points:
• Addressing Bottlenecks: Discussions focused on tackling existing challenges and encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to leverage AfCFTA opportunities.
• Customs Role: Emphasis was placed on the critical role of Customs in facilitating trade.
• Nigeria Customs Service Initiatives: The AfCFTA Secretary General praised the NCS for its progressive initiatives, including the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program and Advanced Rulings.
Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023
Comptroller-General Adeniyi acknowledged the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the legislative arm through the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
This Act provides the necessary legal framework for implementing initiatives that align with the government’s vision of making Nigeria a leading trading nation .
Breakthrough Achievement
Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa, CEO of LE LOOK Nigeria Limited, became the first woman to export goods under the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) of the AfCFTA to East, Central, and North African countries. Her success underscores the growing opportunities for Nigerian businesses in the continental market.
Way Forward
The AfCFTA Secretariat committed to developing a concept note outlining the way forward for the free trade area.
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.
The Biashara Afrika forum has established itself as a premier platform for engagement between African public and private actors on effective AfCFTA implementation.
