The Nigeria Customs Service says it is in collaboration talks with the customs service of the Republic of Benin to improve trade relations between countries.

Customs’ acting comptroller general Adewale Adeniyi said this on Tuesday in Abuja, during a two-day working visit of Benin’s director-general of customs, Alain Hinkati, to Nigeria.

Mr Adeniyi said Mr Hinkati’s visit was part of ongoing efforts to enhance customs administration, trade facilitation and regional cooperation. He said the visit marks a significant milestone in our journey to strengthen collaboration, eliminate barriers and promote legitimate trade within the West African region.

“It is with profound gratitude that I recall our previous visit to our esteemed counterparts in Benin, where fruitful discussions and resolutions were made, forging a path towards more efficient and effective customs practices,” Mr Adeniyi explained. “Today, I am honoured to highlight some of the remarkable progress we have made since that visit, as well as the commitment to further solidify these gains.”

He added, “On promotion of ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the

relevant department within the NCS has been entrusted with the task of reviewing the current impediments to the scheme to chart practical ways forward. Our objective remains steadfast: to stimulate economic growth, foster regional integration and nurture prosperity among our nations.”

Mr Adeniyi said, in collaboration with the inspector general of police, Customs undertook substantial measures to reduce barriers along trade corridors.

He said by addressing those challenges, the NCS is fostering a more conducive environment for legitimate trade to flourish.

He added that the NCS was swiftly progressing toward Nigeria’s integration into the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT), joining hands with other West African nations.

Mr Hikanti commended the NCS for its efforts at forging the collaboration, stating his visit to Nigeria provided the opportunity to deepen the issues raised in June when Mr Adeniyi paid a similar visit to the Republic of Benin.

“We have decided to explore the benefits of the opportunities of our mutual advantages. We are working towards having a Nigeria clearing ground Republic of Benin to make importation of goods through our borders more seamless,” he said.

(NAN)