Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has appealed for enhanced presence and operations of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS in the economic zones of the State to help improve efficiency, and enhance competitiveness within the zones.
The Governor who made the appeal when he paid a courtesy visit to the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Bashir Adeniyi, at the Nigeria Customs Service Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, particularly mentioned the Tinapa Free Zone and the Calabar Free Trade Zone as areas where their utilizations have to be strengthened.
The Governor commended the Service for its outstanding role in national revenue generation and security, acknowledging its impressive ₦6.1 trillion revenue haul in 2024.
He noted that the Cross River State Command of the NCS, by record, contributed approximately ₦200 billion to the feat, underscoring the State’s strategic relevance.
Governor Otu also praised the professionalism and dedication of Customs officers deployed to Cross River State, especially those engaged in anti-smuggling operations at the Mfum and Ikang borders with Cameroon, revealing that the State government recently donated operational vehicles to the State Command of the NCS to strengthen surveillance capacity.
He emphasized the intention of Cross River State Government to ramp up export activities and sought the expertise of the Service in facilitating seamless export procedures for local producers and genuine business people in the State.
The Governor also shared updates on ongoing economic initiatives, including the development of the Bakassi Deep Sea Port, stressing the vital role of the Nigeria Customs Service in ensuring their success.
In a response, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adeniyi, appreciated the State government’s recognition of the activities of the Service and its support. He detailed recent initiatives by the Service to improve trade facilitation, including the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme and the Advanced Ruling System, which he said have significantly enhanced Nigeria’s trade environment.
“These reforms contributed to the Nigeria Customs Service’s improved performance ranking in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) assessment,” he noted.
Mr Adeniyi particularly welcomed the Governor’s commendation of Customs personnel in Cross River and pledged the Service’s full support for the revival of Tinapa and the success of other economic projects in the State.
“Our trade facilitation programmes were designed from the blueprint provided by the President in his policy advisory document at the inception of the administration,” the Comptroller General stated.
He gave the assurance that the Nigeria Customs Service was committed to supporting Cross River State’s economic vision through efficient Customs procedures, particularly at Tinapa and the upcoming Bakassi Deep Sea Port.
The high-level meeting focused on deepening collaboration in key areas, including export promotion, the revitalization of the Calabar Free Trade Zone and Tinapa Business Resort, and support for the over 50,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) currently hosted by the State.
A statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr NSA Gill indicated that the meeting concluded on an optimistic note, with both leaders expressing confidence that the strengthened partnership would yield significant dividends for economic development, national security, and revenue generation.
Source: Monday Mba, FRCN Calabar
