Wale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs, stated that the service is prepared to execute the Time Release Study (TRS) to streamline cargo clearance and enhance trade in Nigeria.
Adeniyi revealed this at the launch of the World Customs Organisation (WCO)-Assisted Time Release Study in Lagos on Thursday.
He explained that TRS is a globally acknowledged tool devised by the World Customs Organisation to facilitate the clearance process of goods from arrival until their physical release.
Adeniyi mentioned that in 2010, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) underwent an extensive TRS facilitated by the USAID MARKETS Project, concentrating on the Apapa Port and Seme Border.
He noted that approximately 20 overarching recommendations emerged, encompassing initiatives such as establishing an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, introducing a single window system, procuring extra cargo handling equipment, and undertaking infrastructure repairs at the ports, among others.
Adeniyi further explained that a second endeavor was made in 2018, albeit unsuccessful, primarily due to inadequate collaboration among the pertinent agencies involved.
The Comptroller-General elaborated that the TRS initiative marked a pivotal advancement in Customs’ ongoing efforts to enhance both the trading environment and customs operations in Nigeria.
Adeniyi mentioned that to execute TRS, the NCS was implementing the AEO program, Advanced Ruling, and establishing a Customs Laboratory as part of its ongoing initiatives to streamline trade processes and boost government revenue.
