The Nigeria Customs Service is leading an initiative called the Authorised Economic Operators programme to make trade processes smoother and more predictable.

During a meeting with stakeholders held in Abuja on Tuesday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stressed how important this programme is for improving collaboration between customs, other government agencies, and experts. He said, “This programme will help us work better together to make trade easier for everyone.”

Adeniyi also highlighted the need to change the way people think about doing business in and around Nigerian ports. He said, “We need to come together to improve how things work in our ports.”

The AEO programme involves many different players in the trade sector. Mr. Adeniyi explained, “This programme involves everyone, so we can solve problems and gather better information.”

He assured everyone of the Customs Service’s commitment to making trading experiences better in Nigeria.

The pilot programme for AEO is set to begin on April 15, 2024. The goals of this pilot are to see how well AEO works within the Customs Service and to get feedback from those involved.

To make sure the programme meets international standards, Mr. Adeniyi stressed the need for transparency, inclusivity, and collaboration.

A selected group of stakeholders, including importers, exporters, small and medium enterprises, Customs licence agents, logistics operators, and government agencies, will take part in the pilot programme.

Awa Nnenna, who is leading the AEO project, highlighted how the programme will make Customs clearance processes smoother and more transparent, following international standards.

The Director General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Charles Odii, praised the NCS for including small business owners in the AEO programme. He believes it will help Nigeria’s economy grow.

CEO of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Pius Akutah, also showed support for the NCS’s initiative, promising to help make the AEO programme a success.