The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reiterated it’s commitment to facilitating trade in renewable energy equipment.
The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi made the pledge on Monday during the NCS 2025 Trade Facilitation Stakeholder Consultative Forum held in Lagos.
The event, also marked the first anniversary of the Advance Ruling programme, a trade facilitation tool introduced by the Service.
The event, themed “Trade Facilitation Measures for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technologies,” witnessed the launch of a comprehensive handbook on import procedures for renewable energy/ energy efficiency technologies designed to simplify the process of importing renewable energy equipment and help businesses achieve smoother trade, thereby facilitating a quicker transition to cleaner energy adoption.
Adeniyi who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan highlighted the importance of simplifying complex customs procedures to ensure seamless flow of legitimate trade.
“With the increasing volume of global trade, expanding global value chains, and the rise of e-commerce and Just-In-Time services, it has become imperative for Customs administrations to adopt mechanisms that support the seamless flow of legitimate trade. Such mechanisms are essential not only for sustaining international commerce but also for empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to benefit from cross-border trade.
“In the context of customs operations, trade facilitation refers to systems and procedures that streamline the import, export, and transit of goods. This includes simplifying customs valuation, tariff classification, and origin determination, as well as facilitating declaration submission, payment, review, intervention, and release processes. For traders, trade facilitation ensures uniform standards, predictability, and transparency—critical for efficient and timely clearance, ” he said.
Adeniyi outlined several key initiatives undertaken by the NCS following the enactment of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, aimed at simplifying trade processes including the B’Odogwu platform, the Advance Ruling System providing pre-arrival decisions and predictability to traders and the recently launched Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, as well as the Time Release Study.
Adeniyi reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, to fostering investment in sustainable practices, as outlined in Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP).
The NCS, he affirmed, plays a vital role in achieving Nigeria’s net-zero emissions target by 2060 through the facilitation of renewable energy technology imports and the enforcement of supportive fiscal policies.
Key features of the handbook according to the Customs boss include customs regulations, tariff classifications for renewable energy equipment, compliance standards, documentation requirements, and step-by-step import procedures.
He said the handbook will help stakeholders navigate the complexities of importing renewable energy equipment, addressing misunderstandings in tariff classifications and import procedures.
Adeniyi expressed gratitude to the NCS’s partners, including GIZ and the European Union for their collaboration in developing the handbook.
Stakeholders at the event commended the Customs for developing the Advance Ruling system, acknowledging it’s efficiency in reducing clearance time.
Speaking, President, Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria, Ayo Ademilua lauded customs for simplifying the process for importing renewable agency .
He said with the advanced ruling programme, importers can get information prior to the arrival of their cargo.
Noting that most of its members rely on information from agents, Ademilua suggested more direct interaction with the Nigeria Customs Service
