Customs Boss Seeks Collaboration With Benin Counterpart

In a bid to further
strengthen bilateral trade tie and sustain existing cooperation between the Seme  Command of Nigeria Customs Service and her counterpart, Benin Republic,Comptrolier Ndalati Garba Mohammed, has reached out to the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin and the Customs Administration of the country for synergy.
During a maiden visit to Benin Republic on assumption of office as Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Seme, Ndalati , acknowledged the existing international and inter-agency tie between both countries and their customs administration as factors that influence the social, cultural and economic lives of citizens of both countries.
Speaking through an interpreter, while on the visit to the Customs Administration of Benin, Ndalati said the laudable examples set by Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service(CGC) and Director General(DG) of Benin Customs at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and regional levels are worthy of emulation.
He said with the increasing global security challenge, the need for both customs administration to work in synergy cannot be over emphasised, and that the visit was intended to cement a mutual relationship that is ongoing, not minding the geographical demarcation but to align with the cultural and economic ties that bind both together.
“ With adequate intelligence gathering and sharing, we can work to foster trade within our sub-region in pursuant of the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) treaties and protocols. We should also insist on compliance by our various stakeholders on the rules of trade within the sub-region.Our nationals are tapping into the benefits of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the Joint Committee on Commerce (JCC).This must be encouraged with efforts to detect and prevent its abuses”.
He commended the Benin Customs Administration on behalf of the CGC for the ongoing bilateral relationship in vehicle import transit process which has suppressed smuggling of vehicles and boosted revenue collection in the command.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic