Customs in Nigeria, Benin, Cameroun, others to streamline checkpoints

THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with its counterpart in Benin Republic, Cameroun, Chad and Niger has resolved to streamline the operation of checkpoints through the use of professional tools.

  According to the various Customs commands, there is need to adhere strictly to the provisions of transit protocols in the regional economic groups.

  A communiqué issued at the end of a meeting held in Abuja and made available to The Guardian at the weekend called for regional trade and need to foster professionalism in Customs operations.

  To this end, the leadership of the Customs commands also called for the setting up of dedicated desks in “our Customs administrations to address the issues and challenges related to transit trade among the proximate countries.”

  Other resolutions reached include need to “Collaborate with partner government agencies to reduce non-tariff barriers associated with movement of goods across borders, and implement fast tack concessions for compliant traders in line with international best practices.”

  It added: “Establish focal points within our Customs administrations to communicate within our region movement of goods and pursue on-going projects related to interconnectivity of our computer systems.”

  Other resolutions include: “Communicate significant seizures and method of concealment among our Customs administrations to enable us build formidable risk profiles of cross-border operators.

  “Use ICT tools to facilitate exchange of information between our Customs administrations, establish clearly the documents and instruments that will be exchanged between our Customs administrations to ensure transparency and work towards conclusion of mutual administrative assistance agreements among our administrations.

  “Commended the joint border patrol currently in operation between Nigeria and Niger and urged the other countries to make consultations with their governments to seek necessary approvals to extend same to the rest of the region, work out the modalities, supporting logistics, as well as the command and control structure.

  “Call on national governments to support joint cross borders patrols through the provision of adequate vehicles and equipment.

  “Expressed support for current efforts to establish joint border posts between countries in the proximate region, and take concrete actions to put in place the modalities for actual implementation,” among others.