Customs will obey rules of origin in handling AfCFTA trades – CG

The Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has said the service will obey the rules of origin guidelines while implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The CG said officers of the service would not allow cargoes not manufactured within the AFCFTA member countries into Nigeria without the payment of import duty.

He noted that only goods manufactured within AfCFTA member nations would be allowed to enjoy import duty waiver benefits.

Adeniyi made this disclosure while speaking at a panel session in Lagos at the 2023 Zenith Bank International Trade Seminar on Non-Oil Export.

The CG, who was represented by the Controller in charge of Lilypond Export Command, Ijora, Mohammed Babandede, said the service had put in place structures to facilitate export trade and remove all impediment along the command, which is a one-stop shop for exporters.

According to him, the NCS had since November 2022, evaluated challenges faced by exporters and created a one stop shop to address these issues.

He described the establishing of Lilypond Export Command and creation of five export processing terminals as bold steps by the government to facilitate trade and promote non-oil export in the country

Also speaking at the event, Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of AfCFTA urged African countries to tap into the benefits of what he described as the largest free trade area in the world.

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