Customs Launches Renewable Energy Handbook to Boost Green Trade, Deepen EU-Germany-GIZ Partnership

…As CG Adeniyi affirms commitment to responsible trade and net-zero emissions by 2060

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially launched a Handbook on Import and Export Procedures for Renewable Energy Equipment, a landmark move aimed at advancing Nigeria’s energy transition and supporting sustainable trade.

The launch ceremony took place on Monday, 29 July 2025, at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja.

The comprehensive document is the outcome of a collaborative effort between the NCS, the European Union (EU), the German Embassy in Nigeria, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Designed to simplify and streamline Customs procedures relating to renewable energy technologies, the handbook is part of a broader initiative to align Nigeria’s trade practices with international best standards and environmental goals.

Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, described the handbook as a “living document,” noting that it would be regularly updated to keep pace with dynamic developments in green technologies, government policies, and global trade protocols.

“With Nigeria’s increasing investment in renewable energy infrastructure, Customs has a responsibility to ensure that legitimate trade in this sector is facilitated efficiently and securely,” CG Adeniyi stated. “This handbook addresses past classification and clearance challenges, offering clarity to importers, exporters, and officers.”

Adeniyi also emphasised the handbook’s role in supporting the Federal Government’s Nigeria Energy Transition Plan (ETP), which seeks to attain net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2060, while also expanding energy access to underserved communities across the country.

He commended the financial and technical support provided by international development partners, describing the EU-Germany-GIZ collaboration as a “model of institutional synergy that benefits both trade and the environment.”

“This is more than a Customs document; it’s a strategic tool for economic transformation,” he declared.

Inga Stefanowicz, Head of the Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria, applauded the Customs Service’s reform efforts and expressed the EU’s continued support in fostering a circular economy and environmentally sustainable trade practices.

“We are especially encouraged by the rising involvement of women in the Nigeria Customs Service, a sign of inclusiveness that strengthens institutional resilience,” she remarked.

Karin Jansen, Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy, reiterated Germany’s commitment to bolstering bilateral cooperation with Nigeria, particularly in renewable energy development and trade facilitation.

Marcus Wagner, Country Director of GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, joined others in commending the Customs leadership and lauded CG Adeniyi on his recent election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council.

“That appointment is not only a personal achievement but a global recognition of Nigeria’s growing leadership in Customs modernisation and reform,” Wagner said.

The newly launched handbook is set to become a vital reference guide for Customs officers, freight forwarders, renewable energy companies, and related stakeholders.

It provides step-by-step procedures for documentation, tariff classification, valuation, exemptions, and compliance requirements for clean energy equipment such as solar panels, inverters, wind turbines, and batteries.

This initiative also reinforces Nigeria’s commitments under international frameworks including the Paris Agreement and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), positioning the country as a forward-looking hub for green logistics and eco-friendly trade practices across Africa.