The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has pledged to remove non-tariff barriers, address operational bottlenecks, and work with relevant agencies to create an enabling environment for exports.

The NCS’ comptroller-general, Bashir Adeniyi, gave the assurance to onion farmers and other export-focused stakeholders in a statement by the service’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Thursday in Abuja.

“We will remove all known non-tariff barriers and work with other government agencies and stakeholders to create a more facilitating environment for trade,” he said.

A delegation of the Regional Observatory of Onion in West and Central Africa (ORO/AOC), led by its president, Aliyu Maitasamu, recently visited the NCS’ CG in Abuja.

Mr Maitasamu acknowledged the complexity of regulating cross-border trade, affirmed the association’s readiness to work closely with customs, and urged improved coordination mechanisms for onion transit.

However, the NCS CG said that over the past six months, the NCS had faced sustained pressure from economic operators in the Republic of Benin and Niger over the use of Nigeria’s transit corridors, particularly routes through North-Eastern Nigeria and the Kamba axis.

According to him, while discussions on transit corridors often focus on imports, the engagement with onion exporters presents an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s export narrative and unlock broader economic benefits.

He underscored the importance of exports in driving economic prosperity, creating job opportunities, supporting a favourable balance of trade, and ultimately contributing to GDP growth.

Mr Adeniyi said that, beyond ensuring compliance, regulatory agencies were required to address legitimate stakeholder concerns, adding that the establishment of a structured engagement framework was underway.

The NCS recently deepened bilateral ties with the Niger Republic Customs Administration in a high-level meeting with the organisation, led by its director-general, Muhammadu Yaqouba.

The engagement aimed to strengthen cooperation on the movement of transit goods bound for Niger through Nigeria and to improve information sharing between the two countries.

It also sought to address security challenges along their shared borders, reduce delays along key transit corridors, and ensure that legitimate trade contributes optimally to economic growth in both countries. 

(NAN)