Nigerians Can Now Import Goods Via Benin Republic, Says NCS
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Importers in Nigeria who plan to bring their goods through the Cotonou Ports in Benin Republic can now do so legally. This decision was reached as a significant outcome during a two-day meeting between Mr. Alain Kinkati, the Director-General of the Benin Republic Customs Service, and officials in Abuja, Readership NG reports.
Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, the Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), provided insight into this ongoing development, revealing that the specific details of the framework are currently being worked on.
Under this arrangement, goods destined for Nigeria will undergo assessment and duty payment in their country of origin, with these duties subsequently being credited to the Nigerian government through the Nigerian Customs Service.
Adeniyi commended this framework as a significant step toward promoting regional integration and facilitating trade, emphasizing the close collaboration with counterparts from neighboring Benin Republic.
He also pointed out the substantial reduction in trade barriers, expressing a commitment to further streamline checkpoints through cooperation with law enforcement authorities.
In addition, the Acting Customs chief unveiled plans to synchronize the Information Technology system of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) with that of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to combat the smuggling of vehicles into the country.
Furthermore, the Customs administration is actively working on aligning its list of prohibited items with that of Benin Republic, a strategic move aimed at bolstering the organization’s security functions.
