New Customs Act will promote trade facilitation, raise efficiency, says Adeniyi

The Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has said that the new Customs Act 2023 signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari will boost revenue,  trade facilitation and operational efficiency of the Service.

Adeniyi stated this on Monday, while declaring open a two-day ‘Sensitization Workshop on the Nigeria Customs Service Act, (NCSA) 2023 organized for members of the Customs management.

Adeniyi noted that the defunct CEMA was enacted 63 years ago and had remained in operation since then without any significant amendment notwithstanding the expansion in government, growth in population and over dynamic progress and challenges in the economy.

“Consequent upon this, several attempts were made in the past to cause amendments or the repeal of CEMA to no avail.

“The efforts were necessary because the provisions of CEMA had become obsolete and could no longer adequately meet the contemporary fiscal policies of the Government and the mandate of the Service.

“It is my belief that the new law has addressed some of the defeats in the CEMA and introduced innovative solutions in the implementation of the Act. Under this new Legal regime, the Service has been statutorily empowered to administer and enforce the provisions of the Act.

“We can now also collect and account for revenue from Customs and Excise among others. Also, our service will be able to promote trade facilitation, prevent smuggling activities and carry out border enforcement. Do such other things as are necessary for or incidental to the performance of the function and duties of the Service under the Act,” he said.

Adeniyi assured that the Service will continue to sensitize and educate the public on the provisions of the law, processes as well as the very stiff punitive provisions in the law.

“As a responsible institution, we are not unmindful of the fact that the members of the public are not yet familiar with the provisions of this Act. Most importantly, the new procedure, processes and the very stiff punitive provisions in the law. We are equally appreciative of the urgent need to sensitize the public on the provisions of this law to prevent the excuse of ignorance of the law, which is not a defence. The Service will continue to sensitize and educate the public on the provisions of the law and Customs procedure and processes, ”

In his keynote address, Hon. Leke Abejide, Chairman of the Committee on Customs and Excise in the 9th House of Representatives, observed that the reforms introduced by the new Customs Act has a tremendous effect on every facet of the nation’s economy and career progression of NCS officers.

He said, “This new legislation further marks a significant milestone in our efforts to streamline Customs procedures, enhance trade facilitation, and foster a conducive environment for economic growth and development.

“Some of the reforms injected into the Nigeria Customs Act 2023 is the enhancement of trade facilitation policies of the service, which has upgraded the status of the Service the 21st Century strategic revenue generating institution of our dream.

“Our effort is providing policies statutorily implanted, which invigorates the objectives of keeping our boarders safe and making avenues of leaked revenue accountability lean, hence this institution shall in the shortest period reap the dividends of this legal framework that gear up the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

“For the first time since the inception of this Service, the idea to always go cap in hand for finances in order to perform its lawful and statutory duties is now a thing of the past with the introduction of Section 18 of the Act. The Act provides for a sum not less than 4% of the Free-On-Board value of imports according to international best practice as part of the funds the Service shall keep and maintain for its operation.

“Further, Section 18(6)(a) has empowered the Nigeria Customs Service to superintend over its budget line items which its cost is 10% or less of the entire capital budget under review. This makes it faster for the Service to be able to implement their capital projects as quick as possible to enhance the performance of officers in service delivery.

“This implies that only projects of which value is above 10% of the total capital projects of the year under review will require Federal Executive Council approval.

“It is to be noted that this sum is not cast on stone as it can be upgraded as the need arises by a proposal to that effect by the President to the National Assembly, and accordingly by appropriation put through Budget presentation on Customs Service matters.”