The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its trade facilitation reforms geared towards operational efficiency.
Dr. Ifeanyi Okogwu, the President of NECA gave the commendation when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi at the NCS headquarters in Maitama, Abuja on Monday.
According to the Public Relations Officer of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, the visit was aimed at strengthening partnership on trade facilitation and private sector development.
“We are here today to commend the Service for your impactful initiatives so far. NECA was established in 1957 to represent the interests of businesses in Nigeria. Today, with over 4,000 members, we play a vital role in enhancing the operating environment for businesses, and we recognise the Customs Service as a critical partner in this journey,” Mr. Okogwu said.
He highlighted key trade facilitation tools introduced by the Service, including Advance Ruling, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, and the Time Release Study.
The NECA boss explained that the reforms are significant in reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and improving the ease of doing business, especially for Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs).
“These reforms are not just policies on paper; they are impactful initiatives directly supporting Nigerian businesses, particularly SMEs. We look forward to continued engagement with the NCS to ensure businesses thrive and the economy grows,” he added.
On his part, Comptroller Adeniyi expressed gratitude to the NECA team for the visit and for recognising the Service’s efforts.
He reiterated Customs’ commitment to working closely with the private sector to build a more inclusive trade environment.
“I am always glad to partner with private enterprises. At Customs, we’ve come to understand that our actions or inaction have a direct bearing on the kind of business environment we create. This is why we put a lot of premium on trade facilitation and stakeholder engagement,” Adeniyi remarked.
The Customs boss affirmed that the Service remains public-centric in its approach – and will continue to work with the business community to simplify processes and ensure compliance.
He further stated: “We see ourselves not just as enforcers, but as facilitators. We are committed to walking with you every step of the way in building a better ecosystem for Nigerian businesses to flourish. Continuous dialogue like this drives meaningful progress.”
