President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Nigerian Customs Service for its significant advancements in revenue generation. He noted that these improvements have strengthened the government’s ability to finance essential national development projects.
The President stated this on Wednesday while declaring open the 2024 Comptroller-General Of Customs Conference held in Abuja, Nation’s capital.
President Tinubu who was represented at the event by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu also reassured of his administration’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Customs Service in its modernisation and reform initiatives.
He promised the government’s readiness to continually support the Service with the necessary policy backing and enablement to strengthen its capacity to deliver on its mandates.
While appraising the several reforms of the NCS which includes the Advanced Ruling system and the Authorised Economic Operator Program, the Nigerian leader said that the initiatives align with global best practices and reveal agencies ways of innovatively implementing solutions that advance national economic objectives.
He added that such reforms enhance trade facilitation and create a more predictable business environment that supports the nation’s broader financial goals.
President Tinubu said the theme; “NCS Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose.” reflects his administration’s broader vision of fostering strategic partnerships and collaborative approaches to governance and economic management.
“While these results are encouraging, they represent only the beginning of what we can achieve through focused institutional reforms and alignment with national objectives.
“Let me assure you that our administration remains committed to supporting the Nigeria Customs Service in its modernisation and reform initiatives. We will continue to provide the necessary policy backing and enablement to strengthen the Service’s capacity to deliver on its mandates. This includes support for technological advancement, infrastructure development, and capacity-building programs that align with global best practices.”
The President affirmed that the NCS is strengthening Nigeria’s position as a trade-friendly nation through strategic reforms, particularly in export promotion and port efficiency.
President Tinubu added that this has further contributed significantly to improved global ranking and ease of doing business.
“The Service has also demonstrated that effective trade facilitation can coexist with robust regulatory compliance, as evidenced by its enhanced border security and anti-smuggling operations. These achievements affirm our administration’s belief that public institutions can effectively drive transformative change when adequately aligned with national objectives.”
The President tasked the conference with timely and strategic deliberations considering Nigeria’s role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the nation’s position as West Africa’s largest economy.
President Tinubu also charged the stakeholders to focus on innovative approaches to strengthen existing partnerships and forge new ones to advance national interests within the expanding trade landscape.
“Your deliberations should chart a path for enhancing our trade processes and compliance frameworks in ways that position Nigeria to maximize the opportunities presented by regional and continental integration while maintaining robust border security. The outcomes of this conference should provide a clear roadmap for achieving these objectives in line with our national economic aspirations.” the President added.
The Nigerian Leader restated the government’s determination to deepen its integration into global value chains and strengthen its position as a reliable trading partner
“We see our international partnerships as crucial catalysts in our journey towards becoming a more competitive player in global trade, particularly as we position ourselves to harness the opportunities presented by expanding regional and continental markets.”
The President however added that the success of its administration’s reform agenda significantly depends on the Service’s ability to balance trade facilitation with regulatory compliance while fostering meaningful partnerships.
Dominica Nwabufo
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