Photo: Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, at the conferment of the award on him during the public lecture at NIIA, in Lagos.
Customs boss Adeniyi bags NIIA fellowship
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, has been conferred with the Fellowship of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA)
The Fellowship Award was conferred on him by Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, the Director General of NIIA, in Lagos, at an event organized by the institute, which Adeniyi was also a Distinguished Lecturer.
While delivering 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,” Adeniyi noted that while the mandate to generate revenue for the government remained paramount, the evolving landscape demanded equal attention to trade facilitation.
According to him, 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 ideals and continental melody of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He said: “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.”
The Customs boss also underscored the urgent need to put Africans at the heart of Customs Operations, stressing that the inadequacy of transparent communication channels had contributed to misunderstandings and inefficiencies in trade operations, which posed challenges for both the Customs and the business community.
“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,” Adeniyi added.
