The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has said that Nigerian importers planning to import goods through the Port of Cotonou in Benin Republic are free to do so going forward.
The Acting Comptroller-General of the (NCS), Mr Adewale Adeniyi, said the details of the framework were being worked out.
Going by the agreement, Adeniyi explained goods destined for Nigeria will be valued in their country of origin and subject to appropriate customs duties, which will be paid to the Nigerian government through the service.
He said:
“Substantially reduced barriers around trade corridors as the number of checkpoints have been significantly reduced.
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“Working with the police authorities, with a pledge to reduce them to the minimum possible.”
According to him, the framework was a major step forward in sub-regional integration and trade facilitation efforts in cooperation with his fellow countries in the neighboring Republic of Benin.
The Acting Commissioner of Customs also revealed that plans were underway to link Information Technology (IT) systems with those of the
Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to curb the smuggling of vehicles into the country.
Similarly, the Customs Commissioner said his administration was
“harmonising the list of prohibited items with Benin Republic” to strengthen the customs’ security functions.
