In a bid to boost trade facilitation in Post Clearance Audit, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the World Customs Organization, (WCO), the World Bank Group (WBG), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), holds a five-day workshop.
The workshop, currently holding in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, runs from 7th October through to 11th October, 2024 with aim to enhance trade facilitation in Nigeria.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, according to a statement from the Public Relations Officer of NCS, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, expressed his gratitude to the WCO, WBG, and IMF for their invaluable contributions to the Post Clearance Audit (PCA) reform efforts.
The CGC, who was ably represented by the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Adekunle Oloyode, stated that the workshop is essential for establishing a robust PCA, which complements the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme. According to him, both initiatives are critical to strengthening the compliance framework and advancing the trade facilitation efforts of the Service.
“PCA plays a vital role in ensuring compliance in international trade and safeguarding national revenue long after goods have exited Customs control,” he said.The CGC emphasised that the ability to conduct effective post-clearance audits enables the NCS to detect and prevent commercial fraud, recover lost revenue, and enhance trade facilitation. He noted, “PCA serves as a vital tool in balancing trade facilitation with compliance. A strong PCA framework fosters a secure trading environment, ultimately facilitating smoother international trade”.
He further stated that “they provide real-time insights and knowledge sharing, allowing us to address specific challenges and implement the best practices around the globe, helping to innovate NCS PCA processes”.
The CGC outlined the key areas of the workshop to include risk management, targeting developing data-driven methodologies to identify high-risk transactions, creating detailed audit plans for efficient execution, capacity building, leveraging international expertise and technology, among others and also urged participants to apply what they learned to strengthen the Service’s PCA system and protect national revenue.
The Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Suleiman Chiroma from the Strategic Research and Policy Department of NCS, emphasized that PCA is a tool that ensures the smooth running of Customs processes by introducing measures, methods, and various approaches for seamless transactions. He opined that Collaborations with these organizations is key to the survival and success of the NCS”.
Also speaking, World Customs Organization expert, Russell Clark expressed his appreciation for the collaboration and commended the NCS’s dedication to improving its processes in facilitating trade.
