Importers Set to Clear Goods From Cotonou Ports – Customs

An announcement was made on Tuesday by the acting comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service that Nigerian importers would soon be able to get their goods cleared from the Cotonou, Benin Republic ports.

Adewale Adeniyi, acting comptroller-general of the NCS, revealed this in Abuja at the end of a two-day working visit by the director-general and senior officials of the customs service of Benin Republic.

During the two-day meeting, agreements were made by the customs officials from both countries. The agreements made were aimed at preventing smuggling and boosting trade relations between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

Adewale Adeniyi While replying to a question at the event, said, “We are building confidence in the system offered by the Republic of Benin; our importers are using their ports, and vice-versa. If there are people in Benin Republic who want to use our ports, we try to build trust in our systems.

“And by virtue of this agreement, what it means is that Nigerian importers willing to use the ports in Cotonou can have their goods cleared in those ports because there would be an opportunity for them to pay duties on goods that are liable for payment of duties.

“We can account for the duties on those goods in the ports of arrival. So they will now be free to enter Nigeria.”

In response to vehicle smuggling, Adewale said vehicles are not the only items being smuggled.

“It is just like what happens when goods come in through Lagos or Port Harcourt; it is pretty much the same. But we have not gotten there. We have agreed in principle that we can operationalise this.

“So the steps that we are going to take to get us to that particular destination is what we are going to be working on. It was mentioned in the communiqué that we are going to establish timelines when we hope to achieve that particular milestone.”

He stated that the partnership between both nations would enhance customs administration, trade facilitation, and regional cooperation.

He expressed confidence in the partnership between both countries, saying it would improve trade facilitation, customs administration, and regional cooperation in West Africa.