Tinubu lauds Customs, says Service fulfilling core mandates

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has extolled the legacies recorded so far by the Nigeria Customs Service led by CGC Adewale Bashir Adeniyi MON.

The President on Wednesday, 13th day of November, showered the accolades in his Opening Speech at the ongoing 2024 Comptroller-General of Customs Conference held at Transcript Hilton Hotel, Abuja, the FCT.

President Tinubu stated that his Government’s vision “is clearly demonstrated in the Service’s comprehensive modernization agenda.

He said, “the results of those initiatives across the Service’s core mandates have been encouraging”, adding that “the Nigeria Customs Service has shown remarkable progress in revenue generation, enhancing government’s capacity to fund critical national development projects.

“I am pleased to note that the Nigeria Customs Service is one of the agencies that has risen to this expectation, demonstrating how government institutions can effectively contribute to our economic transformation agenda while fulfilling their core mandates.

“In responding to our administration’s call for enhanced trade facilitation and economic growth, the Service has introduced significant reforms including the Advanced Ruling system and the Authorised Economic Operator Program.

“These initiatives, which align with global best practices, show how agencies can innovatively implement solutions that advance our national economic objectives while meeting international standards.

“Such reforms not only enhance trade facilitation but also create a more predictable business environment that supports our broader economic goals.

“The results of these initiatives across the Service’s core mandates have been encouraging.

“The Nigeria Customs Service has shown remarkable progress in revenue generation, enhancing government’s capacity to fund critical national development projects.

“Through strategic reforms, the Service is strengthening Nigeria’s position as a trade-friendly nation, particularly in the areas of export promotion and port efficiency.

“This has contributed significantly to our improved global ranking in the ease of doing business.

“The Service has also demonstrated that effective trade facilitation can coexist with strong regulatory compliance, as evidenced by its enhanced border security and anti-smuggling operations.

“These achievements affirm our administration’s belief that public institutions, when properly aligned with national objectives, can effectively drive transformative change.

“While these results are encouraging, they represent only the beginning of what we can achieve through focused institutional reforms and alignment with national objectives.

“It is therefore fitting that this conference centres on the theme “NCS Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose.”

“This theme reflects our administration’s broader vision of fostering strategic partnerships and collaborative approaches to governance and economic management.

“It acknowledges that in today’s interconnected global economy, sustainable progress requires us to strengthen existing partnerships while building new ones, always guided by clear purpose and shared objectives.

“Let me assure you that our administration remains committed to supporting the Nigeria Customs Service in its modernization and reform initiatives”, President Tinubu stated.

Earlier, President Tinubu had reeled out his success stories in the last Sixteen months, citing the strengthening of the economy as his starting point in his bids to deliver positive growth and development for the benefit of all Nigerians.

President Tinubu said his government has been introducing necessary reforms to adapt to Nigeria’s evolving economic realities.

“Our focus has been on strengthening what works, refining what needs improvement, and introducing new initiatives where gaps exist.

“In pursuit of this vision, we embarked on bold yet necessary economic reforms. Working with expert advice and careful consideration of our unique circumstances, we implemented strategic policy adjustments to strengthen our economy.

“The removal of fuel subsidy and unification of our exchange rate system were crucial steps toward building a more transparent and sustainable economic framework.

“While these decisions required short-term adjustments from all Nigerians, they were essential to redirect our resources toward productive investments that will yield long-term benefits for our people.

“These reforms have already begun showing positive results, setting the stage for sustainable economic growth and improved prosperity for all Nigerians.

“Building on these foundational reforms, we have expanded our focus to strengthen Nigeria’s position in global trade and investment.

“Through strategic initiatives, we are enhancing trade facilitation, modernizing our port infrastructure, and streamlining business processes to reduce barriers to trade.

“Our commitment to creating an enabling business environment has resonated with the international investment community.

“The confidence in our economy is reflected in the significant surge in foreign direct investments, which has exceeded $30 billion in the past year.

“This achievement demonstrates that our policies are yielding positive results, making Nigeria increasingly attractive for both domestic and international investors.

“More importantly, these improvements are creating new opportunities for Nigerian businesses to participate more actively in global trade.

“Central to the success of these economic initiatives is the role of our strategic institutions and their dedicated personnel.

Our vision required government agencies to be proactive in aligning their statutory responsibilities with the broader national economic objectives.

“Agencies needed to demonstrate initiative in identifying opportunities within their mandates that would best serve and advance our national aspirations.

“We will continue to provide the necessary policy backing and enablement required to strengthen the Service’s capacity to deliver on its mandates.

“This includes support for technological advancement, infrastructure development, and capacity building programs that align with global best practices.

“As you convene for your deliberations over the next few days, I urge you to build upon these foundations with clear cognizance of our regional and continental obligations.

“Your discussions should be particularly timely and strategic, considering Nigeria’s role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and our position as West Africa’s largest economy.

“Focus on innovative approaches that will strengthen existing partnerships and forge new ones to advance our national interests within this expanding trade landscape.

“Your deliberations should chart a path for enhancing our trade processes and compliance frameworks in ways that position Nigeria to maximize the opportunities presented by regional and continental integration while maintaining robust border security.

“The outcomes of this conference should provide a clear roadmap for achieving these objectives in line with our national economic aspirations.

“To our international partners and stakeholders present here today, your participation at this conference exemplifies the global dimension of our reform agenda.

“Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy, is determined to deepen its integration into global value chains and strengthen its position as a reliable trading partner.

“Our commitment to sustainable economic reforms, trade facilitation, and creation of an enabling business environment is firm and irreversible.

“We see our international partnerships as crucial catalysts in our journey towards becoming a more competitive player in global trade, particularly as we position ourselves to harness the opportunities presented by expanding regional and continental markets.

“Distinguished participants, as we forge ahead with these partnerships and celebrate our progress thus far, we must maintain our focus on the journey ahead.

“Economic transformation is a continuous process that requires sustained commitment, innovation, and adaptation to emerging global trends.

“The Nigeria Customs Service, as a key facilitator of international trade and guardian of our borders, will continue to play a fundamental role in advancing our national economic objectives.

“The success of our reform agenda significantly depends on the Service’s ability to balance trade facilitation with regulatory compliance while fostering meaningful partnerships.

“As I declare this conference open, I encourage all participants to bring their expertise, insights, and innovative ideas to the discussions ahead.

“Your deliberations over the next few days should not only address current challenges but also anticipate future developments in global trade.

“The collective outcome of your engagement will be valuable in shaping Nigeria’s trade policies and strengthening our position in the international trading system.

“I look forward to receiving the recommendations that will emerge from this conference, particularly those that will enhance our trade facilitation initiatives while ensuring effective administration of our borders”, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.