AfCFTA : New Customs Unified Management System ‘ll Boost Trade, Promote Efficiency- Comptroller Olomu
Customs Area Controller of Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu has described the newly launched B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System as a veritable platform that will enhance import and export trade especially under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
At a strategic engagement with Lucky Fiber Ltd, manufacturers of synthetic hair extensions and hair-care products with the brand name Lush Hair. A Nigerian company involved in export trade, Olomu assured that Apapa port would always provide enabling environment for compliant traders to operate
Olomu who handed over trade documents to Mr Olusegun Olutayo a senior international trade policy and law expert of Nigeria’s AfCFTA coordination office and Mr Girdhar Chandak the commercial head of Lucky Fibres Ltd on Wednesday 30th October, 2024 at the command, added that the customs help desk is available for support at all times
He said Nigeria is poised for economic growth as the AfCFTA agreement fuels intra-African trade, and will unlock new opportunities. He added that by building on Lucky Fibres Ltd’s groundbreaking export, Nigeria will aggressively pursue expanded trade partnerships under AfCFTA, paving the way for a prosperous economic future.
Assistant comptroller Olusola Salako, the releasing officer for Lilypond Export Command spoke on how the NCS is using the latest technology in ensuring that AfCFTA is successful in Africa since the opportunity was given to the service to play a pivotal role under the agreement said
” The Nigerian Customs Service has been able to work with the agreement with the help of advanced technology and recently we just launched the B’Odogwu that is the Unified Customs Management System.With trade becoming more global, that was why we went back to our drawing board and improved in the technology which will really help us in facilitating trade.
” This new technology will cover up all the lapses experienced by exporters and by so doing it will create a robust synergy between countries. We also have dedicated ports like Lilypond port to enable business owners export seamlessly and to encourage them to do more exports than import because that is what the country needs right now .It also brings about foreign exchange and the only way we can achieve this is when we trade legitimately so Nigerians have nothing to worry about when it comes to exporting their products out of the country.”
Mr Olutayo who spoke on plans being put in place by the government of Nigeria to encourage SMEs to key into AfCFTA made it known that small business owners are already embracing the initiative and it’s not just about big business owners who are trying to export their products .
” The beauty of AfCFTA is that everybody is welcome onboard. Everybody will always have a market they can trade into and let it also be known that President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of an AfCFTA Readiness Fund for Nigerian businesses.
” This fund aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) take advantage of the opportunities presented to them and we are working with the right institution to ensure that these funds get to SMEs to encourage them.”
