The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday said it is ramping up efforts to ensure the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) as the country prepares to host a major continental trade summit in Abuja.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this during a briefing at the State House on preparations for the upcoming Partnerships for African Customs and Trade (PACT) conference.
According to Adeniyi, the Federal Government has positioned trade as a key driver of economic growth and poverty reduction, with his renewed mandate from President Bola Tinubu placing AfCFTA implementation among his core performance targets.
He explained that the government is pursuing policies aimed at decongesting ports, upgrading port infrastructure, and deploying modern trade facilitation tools such as a national single window platform.
The Customs chief noted that he has held several strategic meetings with customs administrations across Africa and the AfCFTA Secretariat to ensure that customs authorities are fully aligned with ongoing technical and operational discussions on the agreement’s rollout.
Adeniyi emphasized customs’ pivotal role in enforcing rules of origin, administering trade preferences, and overseeing the gradual removal of tariffs among African nations.
He also highlighted longstanding hurdles in regional integration, particularly under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS), where many member states have struggled to meet compliance obligations. These challenges, he said, underscore the need for stronger collaboration among customs bodies, private sector operators, and institutions responsible for cross-border trade.
With President Tinubu recognized as Africa’s “Champion of Intra-African Trade” and Nigeria selected to host the next Intra-African Trade Fair, Adeniyi disclosed that agencies such as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and NEXIM Bank are already coordinating efforts to boost Nigeria’s presence in continental markets.
