By ; Ohi Akpengbe
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has initiated the implementation of benefits under the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) programme for approved Importers, Exporters, SMEs, Customs Licensed Brokers, and Logistics Operators starting from September 2, 2024. This move is aimed at improving the ease of doing business for compliant stakeholders by introducing new standards aligned with global best practices to enhance trade facilitation and strengthen Nigeria's position in the global trading community.
According to a statement by the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada, the selected participants for the AEO programme were carefully chosen based on their compliance within the supply chain. The programme, guided by the World Customs Organisation (WCO), has received support from various partners and customs administrations globally, including the World Bank's Accelerating Revenue Mobilization Reforms and agencies like HMRC, SARS, and URA.
Participants in the AEO programme will receive preferential treatment for their consignments, such as Automatic PAAR Registration, Direct Green Lane Routing, Dedicated Relationship Manager, and AEO Branding. Upon successful completion of the pilot phase and ongoing compliance verification, participants will be officially recognized as Authorized Economic Operators.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, stressed the importance of support from all stakeholders and collaboration to ensure the success of the pilot test and to streamline trade processes for Nigeria in the global market. The NCS remains committed to promoting transparency, efficiency, and ease of doing business, looking forward to the full-scale implementation of the AEO programme to create a seamless and secure trading environment in Nigeria.
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