Sokoto, Nigeria – July 2025 — The Nigeria Customs Service, Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, has embarked on a capacity-building exercise aimed at enhancing officers’ knowledge of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and other vital trade facilitation instruments.
The sensitization workshop, held at the Command headquarters in Sokoto, brought together Customs officers and stakeholders to engage on best practices in global customs procedures, supply chain security, and compliance with international trade standards.
Declaring the workshop open, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Kamal Muhammad, emphasized the importance of continuous learning in a rapidly evolving global trade environment. He noted that the AEO programme is critical to improving trade efficiency, building trust with compliant operators, and reducing bottlenecks in cargo clearance.
“This initiative is in line with the transformation agenda of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who is committed to building a smarter, transparent, and more efficient Customs Service. Through training like this, we empower our officers to deliver world-class service,” Comptroller Kamal said.
Resource persons at the workshop provided in-depth presentations on the principles of the AEO programme, the World Customs Organization (WCO) standards, and Nigeria’s steps towards full implementation. Topics also included inter-agency collaboration, cargo profiling, risk management, and digital transformation.
Participants were urged to internalize the knowledge gained and apply it to daily operations, especially in areas of trade facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and compliance verification.
The sensitization marks another milestone in the Command’s drive toward professionalism, global alignment, and efficient service delivery in line with international best practices.
