The tariff classification work model of the Nigeria Customs Service has undergone diagnosing with a view to determining areas in which further modernization efforts would be warranted.
The review of the tariff classification, which is within the framework the EU-WCO Programme for Harmonized System in Africa, was conducted by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in Abuja last week.
Speaking at the reviewing workshop, Mr. Babani, Assistant Comptroller General, Tariff and Trade, emphasised the importance of tariff classification work which, he noted, at all times has been considered one of the core competencies of customs.
Babani believed that it would be difficult to imagine a modern customs service without an efficient tariff classification infrastructure.
Welcoming the assistance provided by the WCO, he pledged his support for the on-going cooperation of the NCS with the WCO taking into account regional commitments of Nigeria and the advent of the AfCFTA.
The representative of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the workshop, Mr. Kwakye, Principal Programme Officer of the Customs Directorate, informed the participants of the upcoming work to implement the 2022 version of the HS in the ECOWAS Common External Tariff and other initiatives in the area of tariff classification work at the Community level.
He highlighted the importance of timely implementation of the HS 2022 by ECOWAS members and undertook to work closely with the NCS to make it happen in Nigeria.
The workshop created a good opportunity to discuss a number of important issues of tariff classification work and participants agreed concrete follow-up actions and will be implemented by the Nigeria Customs Service in cooperation with the ECOWAS and the WCO.
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