By Usman Muhammad Ameer
The National Coordinator of Nigeria African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Coordination Office, Mr Olusegun Awolowo has assured that synergy between Nigerian Customs Service and AfCFTA Nigeria will be well positioned to lead the continent in intra-African trade and emerge as a key player in African Economic Transformation and global economy.
Mr Awolowo who gave the assurance in his welcome remarks yesterday at a One-Day Workshop organized in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Service – Designated Competent Authority (DCA) for Nigeria under AfCFTA with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which took place at Bolton White Hotel Abuja, revealed that, “the rationale behind the workshop is to bring to the fore the critical role of our trade exit points, the indispensable function of our port comptrollers, and the importance of various customs command posts under AfCFTA.”
“These components are pivotal in ensuring that the seamless facilitation of trade envisioned by the AfCFTA is not just a policy on paper but a lived reality for businesses across Nigeria”, Mr Awolowo stressed.
Mr Awolowo who cited the success of two Nigerian companies – Le Look (with AfCFTA Rules of Origin Certificate Number 00001) and Avila Naturalle (with Rules of Origin Certificate Number 00004) at the just concluded BIASHARA Afrika event in Kigali, Rwanda, under AfCFTA is a testament of the blessing of the Agreement.
He reiterated that AfCFTA presents a massive opportunity for Africa to reshape its economic landscape and unlock its immense trade potential and fostering continental integration if the Nigerian customs Service will be in the forefront.
Mr Awolowo discussed various economic benefits for the continent as an entity and for citizens that are abound in the AfCFTA Agreement, stressing that, “the journey towards full AfCFTA Implementation is one we must all undertake with great commitment. The role of the Nigeria Customs Service – DCA is central to ensuring that the promises of AfCFTA translate into tangible benefits for businesses and citizens.”
In his remarks, Professor Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan, who is a Professor of Regional Economic Integration Law and Practice in Africa underscored four key points: First, he said, “AfCFTA Agreement, especially on Trade in goods, is largely Customs-driven, because five out of the 9 Annexes to the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Goods, are of specific relevance to Customs. These are: -a) Annex 1 on Schedule of Tariff Concessions; b) Annex 2 on Rules of Origin; c) Annex 3 on Customs Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance; d) Annex 4 on Trade Facilitation; and e) Annex 8 on Transit. Happily to note, that the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 assented to on 20th April, 2023 contains 38 innovative provisions relevant to origins, evidence and rules of origin, preferential and non preferential rules of origin; and cross-border e-commerce, among others.
Professor Ladan said the Second point – Trade Facilitation, includes simplifying and harmonizing cross-border trade procedures relating to collecting, presenting, communication and processing data for the movement of goods across borders. Thereby making cross-border trade seamless, faster, cheaper and more inclusive, transparent and predictable. Enhanced trade facilitation can therefore increase intra-African trade than removing tariffs alone.
He said the Third point – Trade facilitation is a key component of the AfCFTA and State Parties have committed to cooperate on customs matters and implement trade facilitation measures to expand intra-African trade. The AfCFTA trade facilitation agenda is outlined in several annexes of the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Goods, including Annex 4 (on Trade facilitation), Annex 3 (on Trade in Goods, including Annex 4 (on Trade facilitation), Annex 3 (on Customs Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance), and Annex 8 (on transit). Over all these annexes contain measures for expediting movement, release and clearance of goods, as well as for the effective cooperations between customs authorities and/or the other border agencies.
He highlighted that the key principles of trade facilitation therefore include transparency, simplification, harmonization and standardization of customs law, procedures and requirements.
The Fourth point, according to Professor, it is therefore the responsibility of customs administrations to utilize these-key guiding principles of trade facilitation in order to ensure that trade supply chains are unhindered.
“This, in turn, will make the customs service become more efficient and effective in conducting their mandate under both AfCFTA and ECOWAS treaties consistent with innovative provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, earlier mentioned”, he stressed.