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Following the growing rate of illegal importation of arms and other offensive goods through the nation’s seaports, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is perfecting plans to introduce the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) as means of curtailing importation of dangerous weapons.
The AEO is a programme introduced by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in conjunction with National Customs Administration to facilitate trade, given the security situation associated with the import and export businesses across international borders.
Hameed Ali, comptroller general of Customs (CCG), disclosed this on Monday at a day sensitisation workshop held in Apapa command of the NCS.
Ali, who was represented by Patience Iferi, deputy comptroller general of Customs, in-charge of Strategic Research and Planning (SR&P), said there was need for stakeholders in the maritime sector to get involved in the implementation of AEO.
“AEO is of enormous importance as this will further boost a safe frame work of standards, security and facilitate global trade as its been done in the other part of the world.
“If Uganda a very small country in terms of population and sizes can embrace the AEO, why should Nigeria the giant of Africa not boast of the AEO?,” she said.
She added that getting involved would help stakeholders to trade internationally rather than being limited to local trade.
On the criteria for the selection of AEO operators, she further pointed to the need for stakeholders to be trustworthy and transparent as this was the major requirement to be an AEO operator.
“Other requirement includes must be an economic operator and part of supply chain, record of compliance with customs with customs legislation and taxation rules, including no record of serious criminal offences relating to economic activity of the applicant. The applicant should have operated in the country for three years and above without any problem with the relevant authorities in the country,” she said.
Speaking earlier, deputy controller Mark Lina, the AEO team Leader for Zone “A”, said that the increase in the volume of trade among countries as well as the changing trends in supply chain, made it imperative for Customs administration to review the role of Customs in international trade, and as well sensitise the business community on the need for operations as AEO
