By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has stepped up efforts to boost regional trade integration following a strategic engagement with a delegation from the AfCFTA Secretariat on the implementation of the Simplified Trade Regime (STR).
The high-level meeting, held on March 23, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja, focused on advancing simplified and inclusive trade processes to support small-scale cross-border traders and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to facilitating trade through transparent and simplified procedures.
“Our goal is to make trade easier, more transparent, and inclusive for small-scale traders, while ensuring compliance with national and regional trade regulations,” she said.
In his opening remarks, the leader of the AfCFTA delegation, Pedro Estevao, highlighted Nigeria’s designation as the pilot country for the Simplified Trade Regime in West Africa, noting that the country’s large market size positions it to drive inclusive trade and regional economic growth.
During the engagement, the NCS presented its draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementing the STR, detailing simplified customs processes for informal cross-border trade, passenger baggage handling, and low-value e-commerce transactions. The framework also incorporates digital declaration systems and risk-based controls aimed at improving efficiency.
A consultant with the AfCFTA Secretariat, Nabil Zibani, delivered a presentation on the proposed continental STR framework, stressing the need for systems that enable MSMEs to easily comply with customs requirements while enhancing participation in regional trade.
Discussions at the meeting identified key areas of alignment between the NCS draft SOP and the AfCFTA framework, including simplified documentation, adoption of digital platforms for trade processing, the use of de minimis thresholds for low-value goods, and the promotion of inclusive trade, particularly for women and small businesses.
Both parties agreed to sustain technical engagements to refine implementation strategies, address operational challenges, and ensure seamless alignment between Nigeria’s national procedures and continental trade frameworks.
The engagement marks a major step in positioning Nigeria as a pilot country for the STR under AfCFTA, while reinforcing the NCS’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade, strengthening regional integration, and promoting inclusive economic growth.
