Huawei South Africa Hosts Nigeria Customs AEO Technical Working Group in Johannesburg
In a move to strengthen customs collaboration and enhance trade facilitation between Nigeria and South Africa, Huawei Technology South Africa hosted the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Technical Working Group (TWG) in Johannesburg.
The delegation was on a five-day benchmarking mission, working closely with the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
In a statement, the NCS explained that the benchmarking exercise is part of the Accelerated Trade Facilitation Programme (ATFP), funded by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and UKaid, with support from SARS.
Chief Superintendent of Customs, Nnenna Awa, who leads the NCS AEO programme, highlighted the importance of the mission, stating that it would bolster Nigeria’s efforts to implement the AEO programme efficiently.
The programme is designed to streamline trade processes and foster seamless cross-border transactions.
Penny Bologo, the AEO Lead for SARS, emphasised the critical role that both Nigeria and South Africa play in global trade, calling for greater collaboration between the two customs services.
“The WCO Safe Framework of Standards, particularly Pillars 1 and 2, encourages partnerships between customs authorities and traders. The joint efforts of Nigeria and South Africa are key to ensuring the smooth implementation of the AEO programme,” Bologo stated.
Amy, representing Huawei Technology South Africa, welcomed the NCS AEO TWG, urging for continued support from both SARS and NCS to enhance global trade through advanced customs compliance mechanisms.
She reiterated Huawei’s commitment to participating in the AEO programme, which is essential for fostering international business relationships.
Austin Ijeh, Huawei Nigeria’s Customs Compliance Officer, praised the NCS for its leadership in promoting the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
“The support we receive from the NCS is instrumental in our operations, and we look forward to further strengthening this relationship,” Ijeh remarked.
Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Abdulkareem Musa, and Olufemi Kukoyi, also part of the NCS delegation, stressed the importance of trader compliance in ensuring the success of the AEO programme.
They expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Comptroller-General of Customs in facilitating trade in Nigeria through the AEO initiative and other trade facilitation tools.
The visit provided the NCS AEO Technical Working Group an opportunity to learn from SARS’s administration of AEO benefits to Huawei Technology, one of the AEO pilot companies in Nigeria.
The mission is expected to have a lasting impact on Nigeria’s trade facilitation efforts, furthering collaboration between the two nations and boosting trade across the continent.
This exchange of expertise marks another step towards enhancing customs cooperation and driving trade efficiency within the African region.
