Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi.
By Mark Longyen
The Comptroller-General (CGC) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has said that the implementation of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), a pilot scheme of the NCS, would facilitate trade, enhance global border security and bolster sustainable economic development.
Adeniyi made this known at the 6th World Customs Organisation (WCO) Global Authorized Economic Operators Conference in Shenzhen, China.

The CGC noted that the AEO was significant in reducing the time and cost of doing business, hence he would educate NCS officers back home on how to implement it for effective service delivery.

“We started implementing the pilot AEO program in Nigeria about a month ago.
“We have been inspired by the policy and vision of the new Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu to enhance economic competitiveness and diversification.

“The program is significant in reducing the time and cost of doing business, hence the need for stakeholder engagement and addressing implementation challenges,” Adeniyi said.

Also speaking, Ian Sanders, Secretary-General of the World Customs Organisation, lauded the collaborative efforts of AEO members states.
He noted that the conference was a global platform for fostering transparent, secure, and resilient trade ecosystems.

Sanders canvassed the integration of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) into the AEO program, considering their critical role in global economic transformation.
The Nigerian Customs boss was joined at the event by China’s Customs boss, Sun Yuning, Portugal’s Tax and Customs Authority boss, Helena Marla, NCS AEO lead, CSC Nnenna Awa, NCS Spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada, among others.

The WCO conference also featured a panel discussion on: “Advancing Women’s Empowerment through AEO Programmes.”

The panel discussion, which drew participants from customs agents and trade experts from China, New Zealand, and the Dominican Republic, also aimed at addressing barriers in global trade.