Trade ministry to collaborate with Customs on industrial policies implementation

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr Olusegun Aganga, said the ministry would collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service to implement some Federal Government’s industrial policies. Aganga saud this in Abuja when the Secretary-General, World Customs Organisation (WCO), Mr Kunio Mikuriya, accompanied by the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Dikko Abdullahi, paid him a visit.

He said that Customs had a critical role to play in trade facilitation and industrial activities in the country.

Aganga said that the ministry depended on the Customs for the implementation of all industrial policies of the government through its management of the nation’s borders.

The minister said that the role of Customs globally had gone beyond mere revenue collection to trade facilitation and pro-business organisation.

“The industrial and sector policies implementation rely heavily on Customs for us to succeed. Today gives us the opportunity to discuss and emphasise the importance of the link between the role of customs and the mandate of the ministry of industry, trade and investment and how we can work together. There has to be a closer working relationship between the customs and the ministry because we rely on them for most of the things we are going to do on trade facilitation,” he said.

Aganga recalled that the recent 9^th Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), held in December, 2013 in Indonesia, focused on the need for all members to take steps to improve on their border management. He said that for that to happen, “there is need for collaboration between the customs and the ministry”.

He also commended the Customs for developing the country’s trade hub, adding that every action of the Customs had impact on the economy. In his remark, the WCO Secretary-General commended the minister for his confidence in the customs.

He said that the organisation would cooperate with the ministry to enhance the activities of Customs in trade facilitation and border management.