As COWA President Launches National Secretariat

The Nigeria Customs Service has reiterated its commitment to enhancing border security and trade facilitation by engaging officers in various capacity-building workshops.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, announced this on Monday, January 22, 2024, at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College Gwagwalada. This marked the inauguration of a 5-day workshop on ‘Rules of Origin,’ co-organized by the Alliance for Trade Facilitation, GIZ, and the World Customs Organization (WCO).

Represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, DCG Abdullahi Musa, CGC Adeniyi welcomed WCO Experts visiting Nigeria to enhance officers’ expertise in trade facilitation and enable their participation in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.

DCG Musa stated, “On behalf of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, you are welcome to the opening session of the national workshop on the Rules of Origin, jointly sponsored by the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, GIZ, and WCO Rules of Origin for Africa”.

He stressed the CGC’s commitment to collaborate with development partners for capacity building, emphasizing the importance of the workshop in strengthening the Nigeria Customs Service.

“So far, the Nigeria Customs Service has been designated the competent authority for issuing Certificates of Origin. Over the next five days, 25 officers will undergo intensive training on the Rules of Origin.”

“I declare this workshop open on behalf of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service,” he added.

The lead origin expert for the WCO, Mette Azzam, said the training workshop is an opportunity for excellent collaboration between customs administration, WCO, and GIZ.

She underscored the increasing importance of knowledge on Rules of Origin worldwide, particularly with the proliferation of Free Trade Agreements. Azam highlighted that determining the value of goods incorrectly could lead to duty payments, even if not as much as expected.

She also highlighted the impact of Rules of Origin on revenue and stressed the need to correctly determine the preferential value of goods to avoid incorrect duty payments.

The Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Strategy, Research, and Policy, ACG Ibrahim Alfa, urged participants to pay attention to the workshop’s teachings, emphasizing its significance in enhancing the Service’s efficiency in revenue generation.

ACG Alfa emphasized the importance of correctly determining the preferential value of goods to avoid erroneous duty payments.

He reiterated the workshop’s focus on promoting the Service’s efficiency in revenue generation. He encouraged participants to absorb the knowledge presented, emphasizing its relevance to the evolving landscape of international trade agreements.

The 5-day workshop is expected to empower 25 officers from the Nigeria Customs Service through intensive training, discussions, and assessments on the Rules of Origin.

As the Customs Service collaborates with international partners, the aim is to enhance officers’ expertise and contribute to successfully implementing the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.

COWA

Meanwhile, the National President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, spearheaded a momentous launching of the Customs Officer’s Wife Association (COWA) Secretariat on Monday, 22 January 2024, at Federal Housing Estate, Gwarinpa, Abuja.

According to a statement issued by the National Public Relations Officer, NPRO, of the Nigeria Customs Service, NSC, The occasion marked the inauguration of the National Secretariat and saw the esteemed presence of COWA’s founder, Mrs. Prisca Nwadialo, and A’ishatu Sadiya Dikko Inde, the second National President, under whom the Association established Chapters across the Federation.

The event, attended by various Presidents of Officers’ Wives Associations from different Security Agencies in Nigeria, showcased the unity and strength within the organization.

In her address, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi expressed gratitude to the participants and acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the pioneer Presidents, Mrs. Prisca Nwadialo and A’ishatu Sadiya Dikko Inde, who laid the foundation in 2009.

Mrs. Kikelomo praised her husband, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, and the Customs Management Team for their unwavering support and cooperation towards moving the Association forward.

She emphasized how this support has been a driving force behind COWA’s initiatives, aimed at enhancing the lives of its members through carefully designed programs focused on women.

Deputy Comptroller-General Festus Okun, representing the Comptroller-General at the event, lauded COWA for its commitment to supporting and empowering women.

He deemed the launch of the National Secretariat as a testament to President Kikelomo’s focused leadership, assuring continued support from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR.

The event concluded on a high note, highlighting COWA’s dedication to uplifting its members and fostering community development.