Customs partners with WCO, World Bank, IMF for trade facilitation

Nigeria Customs partners with WCO, World Bank, IMF for trade facilitation workshop (Pictures)

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the World Bank Group (WBG), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has launched a five-day workshop in Abuja focused on enhancing Post Clearance Audit (PCA) processes.

The workshop, which runs from 7 to 11 October 2024, aims to strengthen Nigeria’s trade facilitation framework.

At the opening ceremony, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi, represented by Assistant Comptroller-General Adekunle Oloyode of the Tariff and Trade Department, expressed appreciation for the support from the WCO, WBG, and IMF. He emphasised the vital role of PCA in bolstering compliance, safeguarding national revenue, and supporting trade facilitation efforts.

“The PCA programme is critical for ensuring compliance in international trade and protecting national revenue long after goods have exited Customs control,” he stated. Adeniyi highlighted that PCA, alongside the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, will reinforce the NCS’s compliance framework and facilitate smoother trade operations.

CGC Adeniyi also emphasised the value of the virtual learning sessions integrated into the workshop, noting that they enable participants to gain insights from international experts. He remarked, “These sessions allow for real-time knowledge sharing, addressing specific challenges and adopting best practices from around the world, which will enhance our PCA processes.”

The workshop covers key areas such as risk management, targeting, and the development of data-driven methodologies for identifying high-risk transactions. Participants will also focus on capacity building, leveraging international expertise, and adopting new technologies to support the NCS’s PCA operations. The goal is to equip the NCS with the tools needed to maintain compliance, recover lost revenue, and facilitate seamless trade.

Assistant Comptroller-General Suleiman Chiroma, from the Strategic Research and Policy Department of the NCS, described PCA as essential for streamlining Customs processes. He noted, “Collaboration with the WCO, WBG, and IMF is crucial for the NCS to successfully facilitate trade while ensuring regulatory compliance.”

WCO expert Russell Clark commended the NCS for its dedication to process improvement and expressed optimism about the collaboration’s positive impact on Nigeria’s trade environment.

See pictures below:

Customs partners with WCO, World Bank, IMF for trade facilitation workshop (Pictures)