The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Wednesday in Abuja launched the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) programme targeted at boosting ease of doing business and trade facilitation in the country.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi MFR, during the stakeholders Meeting said the program would foster collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies of government as well as experts to boost AEO programmes.
Adeniyi said “The AEO cuts across virtually every player in the sector, the exporter, the importer, the government agencies, regulatory agency, the customs and everybody in one way or the other. So this allows us to address some of those issues. So that when next operators talk about compiling how much it takes them, we will see data that are a little bit more friendly,”
He recalled that the NCS in February 2024 launched a Time Release Study (TRS) as another measure to optimise the trading experience within Nigeria.
Assuring the stakeholders of Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to run the pilot program of AEO successfully, the CGC said, “As we are taking the steps with you with the implementation of the Authorised Economic Operator program, which hopefully will start from the 15th of April 2024.”
The CGC revealed that selected Importers, Exporters, Small and Medium Enterprises, Customs Licence Agents, Logistics Operators, and relevant government agencies have been assigned as pilot stakeholders to run the pilot scheme of the AEO program in Nigeria.
Also, Awa Nnenna, Chief Superintendent of Custom and Project Manager of the Authorised Economy Operator said the pilot phase of the program is designed to streamline Customs clearance processes while ensuring transparency and inclusivity in line with international standards.
