20th April, 2012
The Nigeria Customs Service is set to partner with the Organized Trade sector in its efforts towards the creation of a viable Single Window environment for international trade in Nigeria.
The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Dikko Inde Abdullahi disclosed this recently while unveiling the plans to convene high- level stakeholders’ conference and workshop on Single Window in Nigeria.
“We are putting final touches to the preparation of the stakeholders Conference. I am glad we have reached an appreciable level of understanding with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other critical stakeholders to collaborate with us in hosting the Conference,” he disclosed.
According to the Comptroller General, the basic aim of the national conference is to increase the awareness of top government officials, lawmakers, as well as Customs officers about Single Window, noting that other stakeholders who must be present at the event include core economic operators, importers, exporters, manufacturers, Customs agents, representatives of commercial banks, transporters and all others involved in the international supply chain.
“A clear understanding of the issues involved in Single Window is crucial to a successful establishment of an environment conducive for its operation in Nigeria. This is why we want to dialogue with all stakeholders under one roof, so as to fully understand the process and collectively proceed to the next step,”, he said.
The Comptroller General highlighted that the conference would feature international experts on the subjects matter, drawn from countries where the Single- window environment has been successfully created, and as well as international organizations that have functionally managed the Single window project, and as such, would naturally include the World Customs Organization, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); African trade policy Centre, African Alliance on E- Commerce as well as the Customs Administration of Senegal, Thailand and Sweden.
It would be recalled that in 2011, the Single Window technology stirred controversy in the maritime sector following a multi-billion Naira contract awarded for its introduction by the Ministry of Finance. The contract was eventually cancelled by Government following its public condemnation and proceedings, at the public hearing conducted by the House of Representatives.
—Esther Komolafe