Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says the
Authorise Economic Operator (AEO) programme introduced by World Customs
Organisation (WCO) is aimed at enhancing international business supply chain
security in member countries.
Authorise Economic Operator (AEO) programme introduced by World Customs
Organisation (WCO) is aimed at enhancing international business supply chain
security in member countries.
The NCS Public Relations Officer, Joseph
Attah, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that “AEO is a
concept of customs to business supply chain security. It is aimed at
Attah, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that “AEO is a
concept of customs to business supply chain security. It is aimed at
facilitating legitimate trade in the
country.”
country.”
According to him, AEO deals essentially
with security in the movement of goods from the manufacturer to importers up to
the factory in a fast track manner in such a way that security is guaranteed.
with security in the movement of goods from the manufacturer to importers up to
the factory in a fast track manner in such a way that security is guaranteed.
He explained that the programme would
require traders to voluntarily meet a wide range of criteria and work in close
cooperation with NCS authorities to ensure the common objective of supply chain
security.
require traders to voluntarily meet a wide range of criteria and work in close
cooperation with NCS authorities to ensure the common objective of supply chain
security.
He added that “the WCO introduced AEO to
encourage compliance and build trust, thereby reducing cost of doing business
on the part of traders and government to facilitate legitimate trade and
ultimately boosting economic development in the region.
encourage compliance and build trust, thereby reducing cost of doing business
on the part of traders and government to facilitate legitimate trade and
ultimately boosting economic development in the region.
“The compliant traders are given AEO status
because they are low risk traders and can be trusted by customs by granting
their releases with less control compared to non-compliant traders.
because they are low risk traders and can be trusted by customs by granting
their releases with less control compared to non-compliant traders.
“AEO is partly involved in the
international movement of goods in whatever function that has been approved by
or on behalf of a national customs administration.
international movement of goods in whatever function that has been approved by
or on behalf of a national customs administration.
“AEO will also involve manufacturers,
importers, exporters, brokers, carriers, warehouses, distributors, freight
forwarders among many.”
importers, exporters, brokers, carriers, warehouses, distributors, freight
forwarders among many.”
Attah said that a workshop was held in May
on AEO, adding that the workshop was a major step toward implementing the AEO
programme in Nigeria.
on AEO, adding that the workshop was a major step toward implementing the AEO
programme in Nigeria.
He said WCO sent two experts to NCS
administration to train customs officers and shareholders on how to operate the
concept, noting that Nigeria as the biggest market in Africa was yet to join
the rest of the world in the implementation of the programme.
administration to train customs officers and shareholders on how to operate the
concept, noting that Nigeria as the biggest market in Africa was yet to join
the rest of the world in the implementation of the programme.
Attah said some modest economies like
Uganda and Rwanda had the programme already working with the support of the
WCO.
Uganda and Rwanda had the programme already working with the support of the
WCO.
According to him, WCO is working with NCS
to ensure that AEO programme takes off in Nigeria.
to ensure that AEO programme takes off in Nigeria.
The customs PRO said the ease of doing
business was a government policy introduced to reduce bottlenecks in the flow
of trade, which was also in line with World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade
facilitation.
business was a government policy introduced to reduce bottlenecks in the flow
of trade, which was also in line with World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade
facilitation.
He stressed the need for collaboration,
partnership between customs, government agencies and the private sector to
achieve the goals of the programme.
partnership between customs, government agencies and the private sector to
achieve the goals of the programme.
“This is one way to reduce emphasis on
control, secure the supply chain, enhance compliance level and increase revenue
and ultimately achieve enhanced economic development.
control, secure the supply chain, enhance compliance level and increase revenue
and ultimately achieve enhanced economic development.
“Obviously there are challenges on our part
toward achieving this goal, the main one being the issue of trust both on the
side of government and the business community.
toward achieving this goal, the main one being the issue of trust both on the
side of government and the business community.
“However, the AEO programme is a strong
tool for building trust.”
tool for building trust.”
