A New Understanding Between Customs and Manufacturers

By Abdulsalam Mahmud

For years, the relationship between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the manufacturing community had been marked by tension and misunderstanding. Each spoke from a different world — one focused on revenue and regulation, the other on production and survival.

Manufacturers wanted simpler procedures and policies that made business easier. Customs, on the other hand, faced the delicate duty of protecting national revenue while keeping trade open and fair. It was never an easy balance. But time, and experience, seem to be softening those old divisions.

Both sides are beginning to see what had always been obvious — that they need each other. Nigeria cannot industrialise without manufacturers, and manufacturers cannot thrive without a customs system that works. That sense of shared purpose set the tone for a quiet but important meeting in Lagos nearly three weeks ago, where Customs and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) came together to rebuild trust.

It was a meeting about understanding — not a ceremony, but a conversation. By the time Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and MAN President, Francis Meshioye, signed a joint communiqué, it was clear that something had changed.

The atmosphere was calm, the conversation sincere. Both institutions recognised that the era of working at cross purposes must end. The engagement, which lasted more than six hours, focused on collaboration to drive industrial growth, ease trade, and strengthen Nigeria’s economic base.

It offered an honest space for both sides to air their concerns. Adeniyi reaffirmed Customs’ resolve to keep revenue collection efficient while pushing reforms that make business easier. He described the manufacturing sector as a key pillar of Nigeria’s industrial revival and a major source of jobs and growth.

One major decision that stood out from the meeting was the approval of key exemptions from the 4 percent Free on Board levy, approved by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun. It was a move aimed at reducing costs for manufacturers and improving competitiveness across the sector.

The exemptions cover raw materials, machinery, and spare parts imported under Chapters 98 and 99 of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff. They also apply to government projects with Import Duty Exemption Certificates, humanitarian and health-related imports, and spare parts for commercial airlines.

Adeniyi assured manufacturers that those who had already paid the levy would not lose their money. The payments, he said, would be credited to future transactions once they are properly onboarded under the relevant tariff chapters. It was a reassuring gesture that reflected fairness and empathy — two qualities long missing from the trade environment.

Beyond the levy issue, the discussions turned to other long-standing concerns — multiple checkpoints, frequent clearance alerts, and the delays caused by technical hitches. The Customs team acknowledged the frustrations and promised action.

Adeniyi announced that the Service was setting up a One-Stop-Shop trade platform to simplify documentation and reduce bureaucracy. The goal, he said, is to shorten clearance timelines, remove bottlenecks, and create a more predictable system. He also said Customs would review highway checkpoints to prevent duplication and reduce logistics costs.

He explained that the reform efforts were part of a wider vision for transparency and operational efficiency within the Service. Deputy Comptroller-General Caroline Niagwan, who oversees Tariff and Trade, spoke about ongoing facilitation programmes like the Authorised Economic Operator scheme, Advance Ruling system, and the Time Release Study — all targeted at making trade faster and cheaper for genuine businesses.

While speaking, Meshioye praised what he called a “new spirit of partnership.” He commended the Customs leadership for its openness and readiness to listen. He said the reforms would ease the strain on manufacturers, restore confidence, and make Nigerian products more competitive at home and abroad.

He added that the Association would play its part by encouraging compliance among members and continuing to engage constructively with Customs on policies that support growth. “When Customs and manufacturers understand each other,” he said, “the entire economy benefits.”

The session ended with both sides agreeing to hold regular consultations involving the Ministry of Finance. The framework will allow them to review policies together, track outcomes, and make adjustments when needed. Customs also promised to release clear guidelines to help MAN members join the Authorised Economic Operator scheme, giving them access to new trade privileges.

It may have looked like a simple signing — just two names on a document — but it marked a real shift in tone and direction. It showed that conversation, not confrontation, can move Nigeria’s economy forward.

The Lagos meeting was more than a formal gathering. It was an acknowledgment that no sector can thrive alone. Customs and manufacturers may serve different mandates, but their destinies are linked by the same goal: national progress.

If both sides keep this spirit alive, it could set an example for other sectors to follow — one where dialogue replaces distrust and cooperation replaces conflict. This new understanding, built on honesty and respect, could well become the quiet foundation on which Nigeria rebuilds its industrial strength — one conversation at a time.

Mahmud, Deputy Editor of PRNigeria, can be reached at: [email protected].