The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO), the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has, again, stressed the need to continually improve its processes to boost trade facilitation and compliance between Nigeria and its allies.
This was disclosed at the beginning of a five-day workshop on Post Clearance Audit (PCA) in Abuja to enhance trade facilitation in Nigeria from October 7 to October 11, 2024.
At the opening ceremony, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, who was represented by the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Adekunle Oloyode, expressed his gratitude to the WCO, WBG and IMF for their invaluable contributions to the PCA reform efforts.
Insisting on the importance of the workshop for establishing a robust PCA, which complements the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, he said both initiatives are critical to strengthening the compliance framework and advancing the trade facilitation efforts of the NCS.
“PCA plays a vital role in ensuring compliance in international trade and safeguarding national revenue long after goods have exited Customs control,” he said.
The CGC maintained that the ability to conduct effective post-clearance audits enables the NCS to detect and prevent commercial fraud, recover lost revenue and enhance trade facilitation, noting that PCA serves as a vital tool in balancing trade facilitation with compliance.
Adeniyi also disclosed that a strong PCA framework fosters a secure trading environment, ultimately facilitating smoother international trade.
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Highlighting the significance of online virtual sessions, he added: “They provide real-time insights and knowledge sharing, allowing us to address specific challenges and implement the best practices around the globe, helping to innovate and strengthen the Customs PCA processes.”
Outlining the key areas of the workshop, he said: “The focus includes risk management, targeting, developing data-driven methodologies to identify high-risk transactions, creating detailed audit plans for efficient execution, capacity building, leveraging international expertise and technology, among others.”
He urged participants to apply what they learned to strengthen the Service’s PCA system and protect national revenue.
Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Suleiman Chiroma of the Strategic Research and Policy Department, stressed that PCA is a tool that ensures the smooth running of Customs processes by introducing measures, methods and various approaches for seamless transactions, adding: “Collaboration with these organizations remain crucial to the survival and success of the NCS.”
Also speaking, World Customs Organisation expert, Russell Clark, expressed delight at the collaboration and commended the NCS’s dedication to improving its processes in facilitating trade.
