The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the American Business Council (ABC) have intensified collaboration to improve trade relations.
The partnership aims to address business challenges through ongoing engagement between the public and private sectors.
This was announced during a quarterly meeting at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja.
Stakeholders discussed ways to enhance trade facilitation, security, and Nigeria-U.S. economic relations.
The statement was issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Customs Spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Bashir Adeniyi, emphasized the importance of regular stakeholder consultations.
He stated that the engagement would become a permanent feature of the Customs calendar.
“We intend to institutionalize this as a permanent part of the customs calendar,” he said.
He noted that the decision reflects the value placed on continuous collaboration with industry stakeholders.
Adeniyi highlighted reforms aimed at improving trade processes and reducing operational barriers, including the Advance Ruling System, Authorized Economic Operator Programme, and Post Clearance Audit.
He also mentioned the B’Odogwu platform as part of the service’s trade facilitation efforts.
Improvements are ongoing in scanning integration and cargo clearance procedures.
According to him, these measures are designed to increase efficiency and strengthen border management.
The ABC delegation was led by President Nneka Enwereji, who commended Customs for reforms that enhance trade facilitation and business operations.
Enwereji called for quicker resolution of challenges affecting businesses.
She described the meeting as productive and praised Customs leadership for driving innovation.
“This session has been phenomenal and shows your commitment to improving ease of doing business,” she said.
She added that Customs’ reform initiatives have raised industry standards and that there is much to learn from them.
Stakeholders agreed that ongoing dialogue is crucial for strengthening economic ties.
They also emphasized collaboration as a key driver of investment and sustainable trade growth.
