President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its outstanding contribution to the country’s economic transformation agenda.
In his keynote address, delivered by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu at the Comptroller-General of Customs Conference in Abuja with the theme “Nigeria Customs Service: Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose” held on 13th November, 2024, Tinubu praised the NCS for aligning with national objectives and introducing significant reforms saying “Central to the success of these economic initiatives is the role of our strategic institutions and their dedicated personnel.
” Our vision required government agencies to be proactive in aligning their statutory responsibilities with the broader national economic objectives. Agencies needed to demonstrate initiative in identifying opportunities within their mandates that would best serve and advance our national aspirations. I am pleased to note that the Nigeria Customs Service is one of the agencies that has risen to this expectation, demonstrating how government institutions can effectively contribute to our economic transformation agenda while fulfilling their core mandates.”
President Tinubu also noted that in responding to his administration’s call for enhanced trade facilitation and economic growth, the Service has introduced significant reforms including the Advanced Ruling system and the Authorised Economic Operator Program.
” These initiatives, which align with global best practices, show how agencies can innovatively implement solutions that advance our national economic objectives while meeting international standards. Such reforms not only enhance trade facilitation but also create a more predictable business environment that supports our broader economic goals.
Tinubu also assured continued support for NCS modernization initiatives, emphasizing the importance of strategic partnerships and collaborative approaches to governance and economic management.
” We will continue to provide the necessary policy backing and enablement required to strengthen the Service’s capacity to deliver on its mandates. This includes support for technological advancement, infrastructure development, and capacity building programs that align with global best practices
The President noted that the NCS has demonstrated remarkable progress in export promotion, port efficiency, and border security, improving Nigeria’s global ranking in ease of doing business .
” The results of these initiatives across the Service’s core mandates have been encouraging. The Nigeria Customs Service has shown remarkable progress in revenue generation, enhancing government’s capacity to fund critical national development projects. Through strategic reforms, the Service is strengthening Nigeria’s position as a trade-friendly nation, particularly in the areas of export promotion and port efficiency. This has contributed significantly to our improved global ranking in the ease of doing business. The Service has also demonstrated that effective trade facilitation can coexist with strong regulatory compliance, as evidenced by its enhanced border security and anti-smuggling operations. These achievements affirm our administration’s belief that public institutions, when properly aligned with national objectives, can effectively drive transformative change.”
Tinubu also encouraged stakeholders to strengthen existing partnerships, and advance Nigeria’s national interests within the African Continental Free Trade Area and global trade landscape.
” Your deliberations should chart a path for enhancing our trade processes and compliance frameworks in ways that position Nigeria to maximize the opportunities presented by regional and continental integration while maintaining robust border security. The outcomes of this conference should provide a clear roadmap for achieving these objectives in line with our national economic aspirations” He added.
