The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have renewed collaboration to ease trade processes, strengthen industrial growth, and enhance Nigeria’s global economic competitiveness.
At an engagement session in Lagos on Friday, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Mr. Bashir Adeniyi, described the meeting as a “deliberate and constructive platform” aimed at aligning fiscal responsibilities with industrial growth imperatives.
“Manufacturing remains the backbone of any modern economy, and its success is directly tied to the nation’s prosperity,” Adeniyi said. “Your voices as manufacturers matter. Your experiences help us to understand how customs procedures can either enable or constrain manufacturing excellence. We must continue to build an ecosystem where customs is seen not as a stumbling block but as an enabler of growth.”
He assured manufacturers that the Service was reviewing the Federal Ministry of Finance’s directive on the suspension of the four per cent Free On Board (FOB) charge, stressing that whatever decision is reached will balance trade facilitation, industrial growth, and national revenue stability.
Adeniyi also unveiled plans for a “One-Stop-Shop” trade platform that would allow manufacturers to process documentation, resolve bottlenecks, and clear goods faster from a single point of interaction. He disclosed that NCS had streamlined checkpoints on highways to eliminate unnecessary delays that raise manufacturers’ costs without contributing to revenue or security.
“Our officers are now mandated to operate with efficiency, courtesy, and accountability,” he said. “The idea is simple: reduce costs without reducing compliance.”
On his part, MAN President, Otunba Francis Meshioye, hailed what he called a “new spirit of partnership and openness” from customs under Adeniyi’s leadership. He said the engagement revived a longstanding bond between the two institutions and underscored the importance of dialogue in shaping inclusive policies.
“Manufacturers want efficiency, predictability, and fairness, and we are glad that customs is listening,” Meshioye noted. He urged the NCS to institutionalise the MAN-Customs dialogue platform to ensure concrete results in areas such as digitalisation, transparency, and cost reduction.
The MAN president also pressed for a review of the four per cent FOB charge and support for the association’s digital platform, B’odogwu, which was developed to help manufacturers engage more seamlessly with customs.
Meshioye congratulated Adeniyi on his election as Chairman of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, the first Nigerian CGC to attain the position since the body was founded in 1952. He said Adeniyi’s global recognition reflected the professionalism and innovation that manufacturers had begun to witness in customs operations.
