The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a new Handbook on Import and Export Procedures for Renewable Energy Equipment, following an improved partnership with the European Union (EU), the German Embassy, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
The initiative aims to simplify Customs processes related to the import and export of renewable energy equipment in line with Nigeria’s national energy transition goals, marking the culmination of a collaborative effort between the NCS, the EU, and the GIZ.
Speaking at the launch held at the Service Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to facilitating trade and improving compliance in the renewable energy sector.
CGC Adeniyi described the handbook as a “living document” that will be regularly updated to reflect evolving technologies, international best practices, and government policies.
“With Nigeria’s increasing investment in renewable energy infrastructure, Customs has a responsibility to ensure that legitimate trade in this sector is facilitated efficiently and securely. This handbook addresses past classification and clearance challenges, offering clarity to importers, exporters, and officers,” he stated.
He noted that the initiative also supports the Federal Government’s broader objectives under the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan (ETP), which seeks to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 while improving energy access for millions of Nigerians.
Adeniyi acknowledged the technical and financial support of international partners, describing the collaboration as a “model of institutional synergy that benefits both trade and the environment.”
He reiterated the Service’s readiness to embrace reforms that foster transparency, stimulate investment, and support national development priorities, adding that “this is more than a Customs document; it’s a strategic tool for economic transformation.”
In her remarks, the Head of the Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria, Inga Stefanowicz, commended the Service’s dedication to reforms and compliance.
Stefanowicz affirmed that the EU was proud to support Customs in promoting sustainable trade and circular economy principles.
“We are especially encouraged by the rising involvement of women in the Nigeria Customs Service, a sign of inclusiveness that strengthens institutional resilience,” she said.
Similarly, the Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy, Karin Jansen, emphasised Germany’s continued interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation with Nigeria, particularly in areas of green energy and trade facilitation.
The Country Director of GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, Marcus Wagner, who also spoke at the event, praised the CGC’s leadership and congratulated him on his recent election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council.
“That appointment is not only a personal achievement but a global recognition of Nigeria’s growing leadership in Customs modernisation and reform,” he said.
The new handbook is expected to serve as a vital reference for Customs officers, freight forwarders, renewable energy companies, and other stakeholders operating across Nigeria’s borders.
It provides step-by-step guidance on documentation, tariff classifications, exemptions, valuation, and procedures for solar panels, batteries, inverters, wind turbines, and other clean energy components.
