Customs Engages Navy on Maintenance of Anti-smuggling Vessels
MD/CEO of Naval Dockyard Ltd., Rear Admiral Abolaji Orederu (LEFT) being welcome by the Customs CG, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR
• As CG affirms customs transformation with AfCFTA objectives
Amidst other strategic collaborative efforts, the Nigeria Customs Service has taken a step further to deepen collaboration between the Service and the Nigerian Navy to maintain its presence in Nigeria’s territorial waters against smugglers.
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, who visited the Naval Dockyard in Lagos on Thursday last week, stated that the Nigerian Navy has the capacity and knowledge to maintain the NCS fleet of vessels.
He said, “We don’t need to establish a vessel maintenance unit; it’s capital intensive, but we have an agency of government that has the knowledge, that has the capacity and there’s the willingness for them to assist us.”
“I have seen and marveled by the capacity that exists here in the Naval Dockyard and we believe that we could tap into that capacity and enter into some agreement with you so that you could manage the maintenance of our fleets.” He emphasized.
The CGC stressed that fortifying the NCS’ presence in Nigeria’s coastal waters will reduce smuggling activities to the barest minimum.
“If we block the land borders effectively and do not maintain a very strong presence on our territorial waters, smugglers will take advantage, so we also need to fortify and enhance our presence to checkmate those who may want to try smuggling through our waters.” The CGC stated.
In response, the MD/CEO of Naval Dockyard Ltd., Rear Admiral Abolaji Orederu, maintained that the Naval dockyard has a significant role in vessel maintenance, repairs and even Shipbuilding.
“Naval dockyard is well poised to take advantage of situations like this, and we see the Nigeria Customs Service as a powerful ally of the Nigerian Navy.” he said.
“The capacity is here and the excess capacity can be used to support other agencies, the larger maritime community and the shipping world as a whole.” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has said that the Nigeria Customs evolution of embracing paperless processes, fostering trade facilitation, fortifying capabilities for Rules of Origin(ROO), Implementation of Advance Ruling, Authorised Economic Operators (AEO), and engaging with the business community, all harmonize with the continental melody of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The CGC, who was a Distinguished Lecturer at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, on Thursday last week, delivered a lecture titled, “Nigeria’s Economic Growth and Development: Reforming and Positioning the Customs Service for the African Continental Free Trade and Other Emerging Challenges.”
CGC Adeniyi stated that while the mandate to generate revenue for the government remains paramount, the evolving landscape demands equal attention to
trade facilitation.
In his words, “Recognizing the multifaceted role of the NCS, it becomes
imperative to manage expectations regarding revenue generation. Striking a balance between facilitating trade and meeting revenue targets requires a nuanced approach.”
“This involves making informed trade-offs that translate into fostering sustainable economic development, particularly for small and medium-scale entrepreneurs. The NCS must navigate these intricacies
adeptly to not only meet fiscal objectives but also contribute significantly
to the growth and resilience of Nigeria’s economic landscape.” He emphasized.
The CGC noted that there is a pressing need to put Africans at the heart of Customs Operations, stressing that the inadequacy of transparent communication channels has contributed to misunderstandings and inefficiencies in trade
operations, posing challenges for both customs and the business community.
According to him, “A transformative recommendation is to establish regular consultation platforms that prioritize transparent communication channels for constructive feedback from stakeholders.”
“This proactive engagement strategy aims to dismantle historical barriers, ensuring that the customs operations
are not only efficient but also reflective of the needs and perspectives of the diverse African business community.” He added.
The CGC was later conferred with the Fellowship of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs by the Director General of the Institute, Professor Eghosa Osaghae.
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