CGC Adeniyi meets with AfCFTA SG at Biashara Afrika 2024 to enhance intra-African trade
Maureen Aguta
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, held a high-level meeting with the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, on the margins of the just concluded Biashara Afrika 2024 forum, held in Kigali, Rwanda.
A statement by the National Public Relations Officer (NPRO) of Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed that this significant engagement brought together key stakeholders to discuss ways to enhance intra-African trade and foster deeper economic integration.
According to him, the meeting between the CGC and the Secretary-General provided a unique opportunity to refine strategies aimed at improving trade facilitation under the AfCFTA agreement.
Maiwada disclosed that discussions centered on addressing existing bottlenecks and encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the agreement, given their critical role in boosting intra-African trade. He added that particular emphasis was placed on the role of Customs in these efforts.
He said during the meeting that the AfCFTA Secretary General praised the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its progressive initiatives, including the pilot phase of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, the implementation of Advanced Rulings, and the conduct of Time Release Studies.
He further quoted him to have added that “these initiatives have positioned the NCS as a benchmark for customs administrations across Africa.”
The statement noted that the Comptroller-General Adeniyi in his response, commended the Secretary-General for his unwavering commitment to advancing the AfCFTA’s goals, despite the resource constraints faced by the Secretariat.
He said that the CGC also acknowledged the critical support provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the legislative arm through the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. “The Act has been instrumental in providing the necessary legal framework for implementing initiatives that align with the government’s vision of making Nigeria the most efficient trading nation on the continent, fostering SME growth, and boosting exports to strengthen intra-African trade,” CGC Adeniyi said.
Maiwada disclosed that the high point of the conversation was the recent achievement of Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa, CEO of LE LOOK Nigeria Limited, who became the first woman to export goods under the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) of the AfCFTA to East, Central, and North African countries.
Her success, marked by the export of goods on 16th July 2024 from Apapa Port in Lagos, underscores the growing opportunities for Nigerian businesses in the continental market.
A key outcome of the meeting was the AfCFTA Secretariat’s commitment to develop a concept note outlining the way forward for the free trade area. In turn, the NCS pledged to bring these discussions to the Heads of Customs Administrations platform in Africa, ensuring a coordinated approach to addressing customs-related challenges across the continent.
The Biashara Afrika, now in its second edition, has established itself as a formidable platform for engagement between African public and private actors on the effective implementation of the AfCFTA. This year’s forum focused on addressing the evolving challenges in the business environment and seeking innovative solutions to facilitate cross-border trade.