Nigeria Customs Facilitates AfCFTA Shipment to Kenya, Paving Way for Enhanced Intra-African Trade
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has successfully facilitated the country’s inaugural shipment to Kenya under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).
Lucky Fibres, a subsidiary of the Tolaram Group, has become one of the pioneering companies to export goods from Nigeria to Kenya, marking a historic moment in bolstering trade between African nations.
The shipment, destined for the Port of Mombasa, underscores the collaborative ambitions of the AfCFTA to enhance regional trade connectivity.
This milestone was commemorated during a visit to the Apapa Area Command on Wednesday, 30 October 2024, where Olusegun Olutayo, Senior Trade Expert and Lead of Trade Enablement at the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, supervised the documentation and verification processes.
Reflecting on this development, Olutayo expressed optimism for AfCFTA’s potential to foster a stronger trade network across the continent.
“It is not that we are doing it alone; I have already sent a message to the Secretariat in Ghana that there will be a shipment under AfCFTA to Kenya. I have also communicated with the AfCFTA implementation committee in Kenya. So this is the spirit we are building to ensure that we increase intra-African trade,” he remarked.
Olutayo emphasised the pivotal role of the NCS as the Designated Competent Authority (DCA) under AfCFTA, acknowledging its dedication to smooth trade facilitation.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has been fantastic; they are ready to facilitate trade. Once they hear that there is an issue, particularly around AfCFTA, you will see everybody ready to support and facilitate it, which is the essence of true trade facilitation,” he added.
Assistant Comptroller Olusola Salako, the releasing officer for Lilypond Export Command at Apapa Area Command, highlighted the NCS’s commitment to modernising its operations and harnessing technology to support AfCFTA’s success.
According to Salako, the service has embraced advanced systems like the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) to streamline export procedures and address any trade challenges that may arise.
“The service has aligned with the mandates of the World Customs Organisation to prioritise the importance of trade. Gone are the days when we experienced issues.
“Today, we have a Unified Customs Management System (UCMS). With trade becoming more global, we went back to the drawing board and improved our technology, which will help us facilitate trade,” Salako stated.
He further noted that the NCS has prepared its officers thoroughly for handling AfCFTA-related exports and has set up dedicated ports and trained personnel to manage these processes efficiently.
With this inaugural shipment, the NCS has taken a bold step towards realising the AfCFTA’s vision of boosting trade across African borders, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to a unified and prosperous African market.
