Maritime Stakeholders Demand Obligations for Customs, Trade Facilitation Transparency to Justify Nigeria’s WCO Leadership
Chairman of the occasion ACG Charles Edike (rtd) in the middle, flanked by the Deputy Director, Marine Environment, NIMASA, Mrs Caroline Okonkwo and Director, Ports Regulatory Services, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mrs Margreth Ogbonna at the event on Tuesday
By Francis Ugwoke
Maritime Stakeholders on Tuesday recommended that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) should lead the way in the area of maritime and trade transparency in a more determined effort to enthrone predictability and compliance in transactions.
Noting that Nigeria is currently the Chairman of the World Customs Organisation Council (WCO), a position attained few months, maritime stakeholders said there is the need to “redefine and sustain the nation’s fiscal policies” affecting trade.
The participants were of the view that Nigeria has a big role to play in advancing the overall interests of Africa in customs administration and customs trade to align with global best practices.
They argued that trade facilitation, operational data analytics, enforcement and compliance remain the cornerstone to achieving a successful tenure of Nigeria as WCO Council chairman.
The communique issued by participants at the seminar recommended:
“That there is a need for data sharing between Customs, Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, as well as other regulatory bodies to propagate and maximize benefits of responsible partnership and collaboration.
-It was recommended that chairmanship of WCO Council obligates Nigeria to stand as the pointer in continental trade and industrialization in the subregion and beyond.
-It was also recommended that to make above possible, the Nigeria Customs Service must continue to consolidate on its reforms, and to harness all the potentials in AfCFTA for the benefit of the country.
-It was also recommended that customs should improve the operability of B’Odogwu both in terms of trade safeguards as well as speed and efficient syncronization of all policy templates and data.
-Participants recommended the utilisation of the chairmanship of the WCO Council to advocate for Nigeria’s interest in the area of trade harmonization, digital customs capacity development and enhanced trans-border management.
-It was resolved that without data no serious economic growth can be planned nor serious gains made; noting that data alone can be used to predict trade and promote investments.
-It was further recommended that the Nigeria Customs should lead the consolidation of critical reforms across the national economy to close all forms of economic leakages and other porosity within the trading logistics and customs ports operations.
-In addition, it was recommended that
the Media should continue to support the current Chairman of the WCO to succeed through constructive, objective and developmental reporting.
-It was in further recommended that a review of the reforms under CG Adeniyi has introduced very vibrant policies through the introduction of Time Release Study platform, Data Analytics, Advance Ruling Application, Authorized Economic Operator, AEO, B Odogwu Platform including Acquisition of Rapid Scanners; and therefore should be promoted and adopted within the sub region and beyond.
-It was recommended that to further the cause of AfCFTA especially in the area of accelerating the harmonization of Customs procedures, mutual recognition of AEOs across Africa, customs administration in Africa especially should enthrone data standards to reduce friction amongst member states and to position Nigerian ports as regional trade hub.
-It was recommended that as Chairman of the WCO Council, Nigeria should lead the way in its customs and Port processes , ensure that there are adequate number of scanners at the Ports to examine cargoes towards enhanced clearing of goods.
– Finally, participants observed that this international leadership must be mirrored at home – that robust customs operations will deliver little if the port economic framework remains premised on rent seeking and monopoly pricing.
-Participants suggested the need for the establishment of data driven monitoring programme, adopt state support notification rules , strengthen enforcement capacity and enhance labour stability by fully implementing the Maritime Labour Convention. MLC.
-Participants recommend that for trade to be facilitated and for Nigeria to be respected as a hub, in the light Nigeria being the Chairman of the WCO Council , there is need to ensure that the roads leading to the nation’s Seaports are in good state.
The event which was to examine the current dynamics of the nation’s ports economy, especially at a time Nigeria is presiding as chairman of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council was attended by stakeholders, players and captains of industry.
Organizations that graced the occasion include the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, among others.
The seminar was chaired by the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, ACG Charles Edike Rtd, a revered elder and statesman. Fwdr. Eugene Nweke, Head of Research, SEREC, who was represented by Mr. Francis Anieze-Chukwu delivered the lead paper titled “Nigeria’s Championship of WCO Council: The Impact On Nation’s Economy’.
Goodwill messages were given by stakeholders which overall, applauded the CGC while urging him to represent Nigeria and Africa well.
Those who graced the occasion include Captain Ebebeogwu lheanacho, Charles Okoroefe Ph.D, Otunba Frank Ogunjemite, represented.
The ES/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council , Dr Pius Akutah, represented by the Director, Ports Regulatory Services, Mrs Margreth Ogbonna, also delivered a paper titled “The Impact of Strong Law in achieving Effective Port Economic Regulation in Nigeria”.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration Agency , NIMASA DG, Dr Dayo Mobereola, represented by the Deputy Director, Marine Environment, Mrs Okonkwo Caroline, also presented a paper on Efforts at Tackling Piracy in Nigeria, GoG. Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service from different formations and commands were in attendance.
Maritime Stakeholders on Tuesday recommended that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) should lead the way in the area of maritime and trade transparency in a more determined effort to enthrone predictability and compliance in transactions.
Noting that Nigeria is currently the Chairman of the World Customs Organisation Council (WCO), a position attained few months, maritime stakeholders said there is the need to “redefine and sustain the nation’s fiscal policies” affecting trade.
The participants were of the view that Nigeria has a big role to play in advancing the overall interests of Africa in customs administration and customs trade to align with global best practices.
They argued that trade facilitation, operational data analytics, enforcement and compliance remain the cornerstone to achieving a successful tenure of Nigeria as WCO Council chairman.
The communique issued by participants at the seminar recommended:
“That there is a need for data sharing between Customs, Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, as well as other regulatory bodies to propagate and maximize benefits of responsible partnership and collaboration.
-It was recommended that chairmanship of WCO Council obligates Nigeria to stand as the pointer in continental trade and industrialization in the subregion and beyond.
-It was also recommended that to make above possible, the Nigeria Customs Service must continue to consolidate on its reforms, and to harness all the potentials in AfCFTA for the benefit of the country.
-It was also recommended that customs should improve the operability of B’Odogwu both in terms of trade safeguards as well as speed and efficient syncronization of all policy templates and data.
-Participants recommended the utilisation of the chairmanship of the WCO Council to advocate for Nigeria’s interest in the area of trade harmonization, digital customs capacity development and enhanced trans-border management.
-It was resolved that without data no serious economic growth can be planned nor serious gains made; noting that data alone can be used to predict trade and promote investments.
-It was further recommended that the Nigeria Customs should lead the consolidation of critical reforms across the national economy to close all forms of economic leakages and other porosity within the trading logistics and customs ports operations.
-In addition, it was recommended that
the Media should continue to support the current Chairman of the WCO to succeed through constructive, objective and developmental reporting.
-It was in further recommended that a review of the reforms under CG Adeniyi has introduced very vibrant policies through the introduction of Time Release Study platform, Data Analytics, Advance Ruling Application, Authorized Economic Operator, AEO, B Odogwu Platform including Acquisition of Rapid Scanners; and therefore should be promoted and adopted within the sub region and beyond.
-It was recommended that to further the cause of AfCFTA especially in the area of accelerating the harmonization of Customs procedures, mutual recognition of AEOs across Africa, customs administration in Africa especially should enthrone data standards to reduce friction amongst member states and to position Nigerian ports as regional trade hub.
-It was recommended that as Chairman of the WCO Council, Nigeria should lead the way in its customs and Port processes , ensure that there are adequate number of scanners at the Ports to examine cargoes towards enhanced clearing of goods.
– Finally, participants observed that this international leadership must be mirrored at home – that robust customs operations will deliver little if the port economic framework remains premised on rent seeking and monopoly pricing.
-Participants suggested the need for the establishment of data driven monitoring programme, adopt state support notification rules , strengthen enforcement capacity and enhance labour stability by fully implementing the Maritime Labour Convention. MLC.
-Participants recommend that for trade to be facilitated and for Nigeria to be respected as a hub, in the light Nigeria being the Chairman of the WCO Council , there is need to ensure that the roads leading to the nation’s Seaports are in good state.
The event which was to examine the current dynamics of the nation’s ports economy, especially at a time Nigeria is presiding as chairman of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council was attended by stakeholders, players and captains of industry.
Organizations that graced the occasion include the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, among others.
The seminar was chaired by the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, ACG Charles Edike Rtd, a revered elder and statesman. Fwdr. Eugene Nweke, Head of Research, SEREC, who was represented by Mr. Francis Anieze-Chukwu delivered the lead paper titled “Nigeria’s Championship of WCO Council: The Impact On Nation’s Economy’.
Goodwill messages were given by stakeholders which overall, applauded the CGC while urging him to represent Nigeria and Africa well.
Those who graced the occasion include Captain Ebebeogwu lheanacho, Charles Okoroefe Ph.D, Otunba Frank Ogunjemite, represented.
The ES/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council , Dr Pius Akutah, represented by the Director, Ports Regulatory Services, Mrs Margreth Ogbonna, also delivered a paper titled “The Impact of Strong Law in achieving Effective Port Economic Regulation in Nigeria”.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration Agency , NIMASA DG, Dr Dayo Mobereola, represented by the Deputy Director, Marine Environment, Mrs Okonkwo Caroline, also presented a paper on Efforts at Tackling Piracy in Nigeria, GoG. Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service from different formations and commands were in attendance.
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