The Nigeria Customs Service has hosted the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) five-day workshop aimed at building the capacity of Customs operatives across African countries in the area of rules of origin.
The workshop, which started on Thursday, November 28, 2024, brought together representatives from 26 countries.
According to Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, DCG Caroline Niagwan, the WCO and JICA have formed an alliance to provide technical assistance, including training initiatives, to support Customs officers across the African region.
This partnership is part of the EU-WCO Rules of Origin for Africa Programme, which aims to enhance the capacity of Africa and support the implementation and application of rules of origin to boost intra-African trade.
DCG Niagwan noted that the European Union and the WCO signed a partnership agreement for a comprehensive program that would foster the full implementation and application of the rules of origin in Africa.
“This program is designed to support the implementation and application of rules of origin to boost intra-African trade,” she explained.
Faith Mathenge, a Rules of Origin expert and facilitator for the EU-WCO Rules of Origin for Africa Programme, emphasised the importance of building capacity for African countries in rules of origin, which is crucial for facilitating trade.
She commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his unwavering support for capacity building.
“I must commend the CGC for prioritising capacity building, which is the bedrock that will enable his officers to implement procedures that facilitate trade and enhance compliance,” Mathenge said.
The workshop is part of the WCO’s efforts to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which aims to boost intra-African trade and economic growth.
The AfCFTA agreement seeks to create a single, unified market for the African continent, and the WCO is working closely with African Customs administrations to support the implementation of the agreement.
The workshop provided a platform for Customs officials to share experiences, discuss challenges, and learn from each other.
The training sessions covered topics such as the fundamentals of rules of origin, the Harmonized System (HS), and the application of rules of origin in African countries.
The WCO and JICA have pledged to continue supporting African Customs administrations in their efforts to enhance trade facilitation and compliance. The workshop is expected to contribute to the development of a more harmonized and efficient Customs environment in Africa, which will ultimately boost intra-African trade and economic growth.
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