The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is hosting a five-day workshop to enhance the capacity of Customs officers across Africa in implementing rules of origin. The event commenced on Thursday, November 28, 2024, and aims to bolster intra-African trade through comprehensive training.
The Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs (DCG) in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, inaugurated the workshop and emphasized the importance of international cooperation in building technical expertise. Speaking to journalists, she highlighted the EU-WCO Rules of Origin for Africa Programme, a collaborative initiative designed to support African countries in fully applying the rules of origin.
“The European Union and the World Customs Organisation signed a partnership agreement for a comprehensive programme to foster the full implementation of rules of origin in Africa,” Niagwan said. “This programme enhances capacity and supports intra-African trade.”
Faith Mathenge, a Rules of Origin expert and facilitator for the programme, reinforced the significance of rules of origin in trade facilitation. She assured participants of WCO’s continued support through training initiatives and commended NCS Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for his commitment to capacity building.
“I must commend the CGC for prioritising capacity building, which enables officers to implement trade facilitation procedures and enhance compliance,” Mathenge remarked.
The workshop has drawn participants from 26 African countries and focuses on modern technicalities in rules of origin to improve trade operations. Mathenge urged attendees to maximize the opportunity to deepen their expertise.
The event underscores the critical role of collaboration among Customs agencies, international organizations, and regional bodies in fostering a robust trade environment within Africa. Through such capacity-building efforts, Customs operatives are better equipped to facilitate trade, enhance compliance, and drive economic growth across the continent.
