The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has begun equipping stakeholders with technical knowledge to enhance Nigeria’s participation in intra-African trade.
The spokesperson of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that the move was aimed at supporting effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Maiwada said that the capacity-building on Rules of Origin began on Tuesday to strengthen readiness and improve competitiveness in continental trade.
He said that the programme was declared open by the Comptroller-General, NCS, Bashir Adeniyi, who was represented by Nafiu Isiaku, Assistant Comptroller-General, Strategic Research and Policy.
Adeniyi described the initiative as critical to strengthening trade facilitation and enforcement across Nigeria.
“The Rules of Origin constitute a critical pillar of economic integration. Their correct interpretation underpins trade preference, transparency and competitiveness,” he said.
He added that the workshop would deliver technical knowledge and practical skills for planning, execution and evaluation to ensure effective nationwide implementation.
The AfCFTA National Coordinator, Olusegun Olutayo, described the training as a turning point toward full implementation and called for scaling up awareness and equipping businesses with practical knowledge on Rules of Origin to compete effectively across African markets.
GIK/APA