President Tinubu Announces Key Reforms to Strengthen Nigeria’s Customs Service
President Bola Tinubu has announced that ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will play a key role in strengthening the country’s trade and border security.
Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the Comptroller-General of Customs Conference, Tinubu, represented by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, emphasized that these reforms are in line with his administration’s goal of boosting Nigeria’s economy through industrialization and diversification.
The president highlighted that the NCS’s modernization efforts are part of a broader strategy to enhance the country’s global economic standing.
President Tinubu pointed to significant changes within the NCS, such as the introduction of the advanced ruling system and the authorized economic operator program, which align with global best practices as these initiatives aim to improve trade facilitation and create a more predictable business environment, in turn supporting Nigeria’s broader financial goals. He noted that these reforms are contributing to Nigeria’s improved global rankings and are helping to streamline business processes to make the country more attractive to investors.
The president expressed his commitment to supporting the NCS’s modernization and reform efforts, pledging to back policies that enhance the agency’s ability to fulfill its duties. He acknowledged the NCS’s success in boosting revenue generation, which has helped fund vital development projects across the country. Tinubu emphasized that these efforts align with his vision of strengthening Nigeria’s economy by building on existing frameworks and implementing necessary reforms to improve trade and investment.
In less than two years, Tinubu’s administration has secured over $30 billion in foreign investment commitments, a testament to the positive effects of the reforms on investor confidence. The president also noted the importance of strengthening existing alliances and forging new ones to maximize opportunities for regional and continental integration. The conference, he said, should focus on ways to enhance trade processes, improve compliance frameworks, and maintain strong border security while advancing Nigeria’s economic aspirations.
