No fewer than 60 participants, including Customs officers and private sector stakeholders were trained by the World Customs Organization in collaboration with the Korea Customs Cooperation Fund on developing a National Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme and validation techniques.
The workshop which held last week at the Customs Command and Staff College in Gwagwalada, was designed to provide participants with a better understanding of various instruments related to implementation of the SAFE Framework of Standards and AEO Programme, together with associated requirements and validation techniques.
It is also part of effort of the WCO to support the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in preparing for the launch of the pilot project scheduled to commence in November, 2018.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Commandant of the Staff College, Assistant Comptroller General, Charles Edike underscored the importance of the AEO Programme for enhancing the integrity of security management in the trade supply chain and for the Customs clearance of legitimate goods.
Edike who represented the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, expressed his gratitude to the WCO for organizing the workshop, given that it aimed to set the stage for collaboration between the Customs Administration and the private sector.
He also extended his appreciation to the WCO official and the accredited AEO experts from Korea for assisting with the early adoption of the AEO Programme in Nigeria, even as he encouraged participants to give their full attention to the workshop and to share knowledge.
Through the course of the workshop, the experts introduced the concepts of AEO requirements, validation techniques and benefits while the participants carried out case studies and practical exercises to gain an understanding of these concepts.