By Clem Khena-Ogbena
The Nigeria Customs Service has vowed enhance regional trade and foster professionalism in the service, through strict adherence to the provisions and protocols in Regional Economic Groups.
The Service is also to streamline the operation of check-points by Customs Administrations, through the use of professional tools and removal of those in the hinterlands.
These, among others, were the resolutions contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting of Directors-General of Customs of Proximate Countries of Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, held in Abuja, Nigeria.
The participants also resolved that the Customs authorities of the individual nation concerned should collaborate with partner government agencies, with a view to reducing non-tariff barriers associated movement of goods across borders and implementing Fast Track Concessions for compliant traders in line with international best practices.
On intelligenc sharing, the meeting further resolved that it was pertinent to communicate important seizures and methods of concealment among Customs Administrations so that they would be able to build formidable Risk Profiles of Cross-border operators.
The stakeholders added that it was imperative to deploy ICT tools to facilitate exchange of “information between our Customs Administrations, establish clearly the documents and instruments that will be exchanged between our Customs Administrations, to ensure transparency and work towards conclusion of Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreements between our Administrations.”
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
