Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General, of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has initiated the implementation of Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) program benefits for the first set of approved Importers, Exporters, SMEs, Customs Licensed Brokers, and Logistics Operators.
The initiative, which took effect this week, aimed at introducing new standards in line with global best practices, enhancing trade facilitation, ameliorating existing difficulties within the supply chain, and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global trading community.
Abdullahi Maiwada, the Customs National Public Relations Officer (PRO), made this known in a statement.
Adeniyi emphasized the need for robust support from all stakeholders, including other government agencies (OGAs) and development partners to promote the success of the pilot test. The pilot scheme, Adeniyi said, will be operational across all ports, where valuable insights and learning will be gathered to enhance service delivery.
These benefits, Adeniyi said, will be administered continuously, contingent on the compliance of all selected participants with the program’s provisions. The CGC stated further that the inaugural participants were carefully chosen based on their outstanding compliance within the supply chain, following an exhaustive three-month AEO validation process designed to uphold the highest selection standards.
Additionally, the AEO program is being implemented under the guidance of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), which has played a pivotal role by providing experts for capacity development, training, and supplying essential materials. The CGC said key partners such as the World Bank‘s Accelerating Revenue Mobilization Reforms (ARMOR) and various Customs administrations across the globe with emphasis on His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), South African Revenue Service (SARS), and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) where benchmarking exercises were conducted, have significantly contributed to the success of this initiative.
“As part of the program, consignments belonging to the selected Authorized Economic Operators will receive preferential treatment, including Automatic PAAR Registration, Direct Green Lane Routing, Dedicated Relationship Manager, and AEO Branding,”
The NCS, the CGC said, remains unwavering in its commitment to promoting transparency, efficiency, and ease of doing business. The Service readily anticipates the full-scale implementation of the AEO program, further solidifying its dedication to fostering a seamless and secure trading environment for all Nigerians. The successful implementation of the pilot scheme, Adeniyi said, represents a key milestone in the Service’s pursuit of aligning with best practices towards efficient service delivery.
In the same vein, Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada, announced on Thursday that the service collected N277.5 billion in import duties for the month of August. Maiwada shared this information during the monthly press conference organized by the Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC), which was hosted by the NCS in Abuja.
He further highlighted that the service also collected N15.8 billion in excise duties, reinforcing its commitment to optimizing revenue generation.in addition, Maiwada noted that as part of the NCS’s efforts to curb smuggling, the service recorded 83 seizures across various commands.
He said, “The seizure also includes 1,014 parcels of cannabis sativa, 23 vehicles, and other contraband, with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N975,066,791.65.” “The NCS also intensified its “Operation Whirlwind” (OPWW) to combat the smuggling of petroleum products, especially in border states.”
“The operation over the months has led to the interception of seven PMS trucks, the sealing of 12 retail outlets, and the seizure of 466,000 litres of PMS and 23 vehicles,”
He explained that investigations had resulted in the prosecution of seven suspects, while three marketers were fined by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Additionally, sealed filling stations were handed over for further action.
During the briefing, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, Muyiwa Adejobi, emphasized that backdating firearm licenses to bypass the ban on firearms remains fraudulent.
He warned that individuals should not be deceived by those who backdate firearm licenses, stressing that such actions are illegal and that the licenses issued in this manner are still considered fake. Adejobi urged the public not to be complicit in criminal offenses related to firearms.
The spokesperson stated that the police force will take an aggressive approach in cracking down on the possession of illegal firearms across the country.
He also revealed that the force had arrested 97 members of the proscribed Shiite group after a confrontation with the police, during which two officers lost their lives.
The spokesperson issued a stern warning, stating that any attacks on police officers or other security personnel while they are performing their constitutional duties will not be tolerated.
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