Customs Comptroller-General Meets AfCFTA Secretary-General at Biashara Afrika 2024 to Strengthen Intra-African Trade

Customs Comptroller-General Meets AfCFTA Secretary-General at Biashara Afrika 2024 to Strengthen Intra-African Trade

Kigali, Rwanda – The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, met with Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), during the Biashara Afrika 2024 forum, held from 9th to 11th October 2024. This high-level meeting aimed to discuss strategies for enhancing intra-African trade and promoting deeper economic integration on the continent.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the forum, provided an opportunity for the CGC and AfCFTA Secretary-General to address key challenges affecting trade facilitation under the AfCFTA agreement. Both parties focused on removing bottlenecks that hinder cross-border trade and encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to fully capitalize on the agreement’s benefits, as SMEs play a crucial role in driving intra-African trade.

AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene lauded the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its progressive efforts in trade facilitation. He highlighted key initiatives such as the pilot phase of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, the implementation of Advanced Rulings, and the conduct of Time Release studies, which he described as setting a benchmark for customs administrations across Africa.

In response, CGC Adeniyi praised the AfCFTA Secretariat for its steadfast dedication to advancing the agreement’s goals despite financial constraints. He also acknowledged the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the legislature through the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. Adeniyi noted that the Act provides the legal framework needed to align Nigeria’s trade initiatives with its goal of becoming the continent’s most efficient trading nation, while fostering SME growth and increasing exports to boost intra-African trade.

A notable highlight of the meeting was the recognition of Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa, CEO of LE LOOK Nigeria Limited, who became the first woman to export goods under the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) of the AfCFTA. Her historic export from Apapa Port in Lagos on 16th July 2024 to East, Central, and North African countries exemplifies the growing opportunities for Nigerian businesses in the continental market.

One key outcome of the discussions was the AfCFTA Secretariat's commitment to developing a concept note outlining the future roadmap for the free trade area. The NCS also pledged to bring these discussions to the Heads of Customs Administrations platform across Africa, ensuring a coordinated approach to addressing customs-related challenges on the continent.

The Biashara Afrika forum, now in its second edition, has become a key platform for public and private sector engagement on the effective implementation of the AfCFTA. This year’s event focused on finding solutions to the evolving challenges in the business environment and facilitating cross-border trade across Africa.

Abdullahi Maiwada

Chief Superintendent of Customs  

National Public Relations Officer  

For Comptroller-General of Customs  

13 October 2024