The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has praised the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its ongoing reforms and operational improvements aimed at enhancing trade facilitation and supporting private sector development. During a recent courtesy visit to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, NECA President Ifeanyi Okogwu (note: the name is slightly different in the original query) commended the NCS for its progressive policies and responsiveness to business needs.
Okogwu highlighted several innovative trade facilitation tools introduced by the NCS, including the Advance Ruling system, the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, and the Time Release Study. These reforms have significantly improved the ease of doing business, particularly for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and fostering greater transparency.
Comptroller-General Adeniyi appreciated NECA’s recognition and reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to advancing economic development through enhanced collaboration with the private sector. He emphasized the agency’s role as a facilitator of legitimate trade, rather than just a regulatory body, and assured that the NCS will continue to refine its processes to support national economic goals.
The visit concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration between the Customs Service and NECA, underscoring the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing Nigeria’s trade agenda and economic progress. This partnership reflects the growing recognition of the NCS as a critical institution in Nigeria’s economic ecosystem, working to create a more efficient and enabling business environment.
