Customs To Tackle Manufacturing Bottlenecks With New One-Stop Platform

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has plans to launch a new one-stop trade platform aimed at fast-tracking clearance of goods.

This comes as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) renewed calls for a review of the 4 per cent Free On Board (FOB) charge burdening local industries.

The NCS revealed this during an engagement with MAN in Lagos on Friday, where both pledged to deepen collaboration to boost industrial growth, reduce operational costs, and strengthen Nigeria’s global trade competitiveness.

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, described the meeting as a “deliberate and constructive platform,” adding that it was designed to align fiscal responsibilities with the imperatives of industrial expansion.

Adeniyi said, “Manufacturing remains the backbone of any modern economy, and its success is directly tied to the nation’s prosperity.

“Your voices as manufacturers matter. Your experiences help us to understand how customs procedures can either enable or constrain manufacturing excellence. We must continue to build an ecosystem where customs is seen not as a stumbling block but as an enabler of growth.”

The customs boss assured manufacturers that the NCS was reviewing the Ministry of Finance’s directive on the suspension of the four per cent Free On Board (FOB) charge.

“We understand the concerns around the four per cent FOB charge. I assure you it is receiving attention, and whatever decision is taken will be in the best interest of trade facilitation, industrial growth, and national revenue stability,” Adeniyi said.

Adeniyi further disclosed that his administration had developed a framework for a “One-Stop-Shop” trade platform to simplify manufacturers’ interactions with customs and other regulatory agencies.

According to him, the platform will drastically reduce bureaucracy, enabling businesses to process documentation, resolve bottlenecks, and clear goods faster.

“This is how modern customs should operate,” he stated.

The CGC also announced that the Service had streamlined checkpoints on highways to curb delays that increased manufacturers’ costs without adding value to security or revenue.

“Our officers are now mandated to operate with efficiency, courtesy, and accountability. The idea is simple: reduce costs without reducing compliance,” Adeniyi added.

He stressed that structured dialogue would remain central to customs’ reforms, as both institutions had complementary roles to play in Nigeria’s future.

Earlier, MAN President, Otunba Francis Meshioye, applauded the Customs Service for what he described as a “new spirit of partnership and openness” since Adeniyi assumed leadership in 2023.

Meshioye said the session went beyond a regular meeting, describing it as a revival of a long-standing commitment to collaboration.

“What we are having today is the enactment of that historic bond. It is a reaffirmation that dialogue remains the best way to resolve operational issues and shape inclusive policies that work for manufacturers and the economy at large,” he said.

The MAN president highlighted persistent concerns raised by manufacturers, including high operational costs, inefficiencies at ports, and cumbersome customs procedures.

He urged the NCS to institutionalise the MAN-Customs dialogue platform to deliver tangible results, particularly in areas such as digitalisation, transparency, and cost reduction.

Meshioye also appealed for a review of the four per cent FOB charge and sought support for MAN’s indigenous customs modernisation platform, B’odogwu, which he said was designed to help manufacturers interact seamlessly with customs.

“We urge customs to take a second look at the four per cent FOB charge. It is a significant burden on manufacturers. We also want support for our B’odogwu platform to enable local solutions to thrive in addressing trade challenges,” Meshioye added.

The MAN president also congratulated Adeniyi on his recent election as Chairman of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council—the first Nigerian Comptroller-General of Customs to achieve the feat since the body’s establishment in 1952.

“It is not just a personal honour but a national achievement. Under your leadership, we have seen professionalism, innovation, and global recognition of the Nigeria Customs Service like never before. This is encouraging for us as manufacturers who depend heavily on efficient customs processes,” Meshioye said.