ZAINAB JUNAID
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday,19 May 2025, commenced a 2-day Trade Facilitation Stakeholder Consultative Forum in Lagos on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficient Technologies to promote sustainable trade practices in the Country.
The event which marked a significant step in facilitating the importation of renewable energy technologies, brought together key industry stakeholders, including representatives from GiZ, the German Embassy, members of the Ministry of Power, Officers and Men of the Nigeria Customs Service, and newsmen.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held on Monday in Lagos, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, in his keynote address welcomed participants to the event which also marks the one year anniversary of the Advance Ruling Programme, highlighting the importance of trade facilitation in Customs operations.
The Comptroller General, who was represented by Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in charge of the Tariff and Trade Department, DCG Caroline Niagwan, emphasized the significance of trade facilitation in global trade, citing international agreements such as the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation and the WCO Harmonized System Convention.
He identified the complexities in determining customs duties, which can lead to disputes, delays, and additional costs, and highlighted the need for mechanisms to support the seamless flow of legitimate trade.
According to him, several initiatives have been deployed by the Service aimed at simplifying customs processes, including the Border Odogwu (B’Odogwu) Unified Customs Management System, Advance Ruling System implementation, Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, and Time Release Study.
The CGC assured the Service’s support for the WCO Green Customs Initiative, which aims to facilitate the trade of environmentally sustainable goods, particularly renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies.
“As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, Nigeria is committed to transitioning towards cleaner and more efficient energy systems.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government continues to champion policies that foster investment, ensure sustainability, and promote responsible industrial practices, as outlined in Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP).
“The NCS plays a pivotal role in supporting these national goals by facilitating the importation of renewable energy technologies and enforcing fiscal measures that promote a shift away from fossil fuel dependency, with a view to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
“As we commemorate the first anniversary of the Advance Ruling Programme, which has provided greater transparency and predictability in trade, I reaffirm the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service—together with our global partners—to ensuring efficient, secure, and sustainable trade operations,” he stated.
In a goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Mr. Mahmud Mamman, empasised the importance of trade facilitation in advancing renewable energy and energy efficiency by reducing barriers to the movement of renewable energy technologies and components across borders.
He explained how simplified Customs procedures has made it easier and more cost- effective to import renewable energy equipment, such as solar panels and batteries, thereby accelerating the deployment of renewable energy schemes.
Mr. Mamman highlighted the financial incentive put in place by the Federal Government to further reduce the cost of renewable energy and accelerate access to electricity particularly in rural areas through the National Policy on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (NREEEP), stating there are financial incentives that rely on trade facilitation, including import duty waivers, tax credits, and import waivers on renewable energy equipment.
“The Nigeria Customs Service plays a vital role in ensuring the successful implementation of these financial incentives. In line with NREEEP recommendations, the Federal Ministry of Finance is encouraged to establish a Special Task Force within the Nigeria Customs Service dedicated to the renewable energy and energy efficiency sub-sectors.
“This Task Force, under the direct supervision of the Comptroller General, will expedite the screening process for RE and EE components entering or leaving the country; Streamline cumbersome customs procedures related to renewable energy imports; Provide staff training on product quality and incentive application; Develop a specialized HS-Code (Harmonized System Code) for renewable energy equipment,” he explained.
Also, Country Director for Nigeria and ECOWAS at GIZ, Markus Wagner noted that the theme: “Trade Facilitation Measures for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technologies” underscored the vital role the Nigeria Customs Service plays in advancing Nigeria’s sustainable development goals and energy transition.
Speaking on a paper titled ‘Introducing GIZ’s support to Nigeria on Energy Transition’, Markus acknowledged the importance of the strategic partnership existing between the Service and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in the shared journey of achieving sustainable development, emphasising how the successful launch of the Advance Ruling Systems have helped simplified customs processes for importing clean energy components, and directly supporting Nigeria’s ambitious green energy transformation.
He commended the Comptroller General of Customs of the Nigeria Customs Service for his unwavering dedication to trade facilitation and sustainable development and also appreciated the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, Tariff &Trade and her team for their support to ensuring the importation of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies are streamlined.
In his words, “With the valuable support of our commissioning parties (in this case the German government and the European union – through the Nigerian Energy Support Progamme, which is implemented by GIZ in strong collaboration with the Nigerian Partners), our collaboration has already delivered tangible results: shorten customs clearance times and reduced administrative burdens for clean energy importers. Today’s launch of the handbook on import and export procedure for renewable energy and energy efficient technologies represents another pivotal step toward enhancing ease of doing business across Nigerian borders.
“Our collaborative sensitization programmes for importers and customs officers on renewable energy and energy efficient technologies classification and valuation have significantly improved operational efficiency while ensuring regulatory compliance. Complementing these efforts, your digital reforms in documentation and processing have accelerated trade in sustainable energy products throughout Nigeria.
“As Nigeria continues its journey toward economic diversification and environmental sustainability, these partnerships remain essential to our success”.
The high point of the event was the launch of a handbook on import and export procedures for renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies which aims to provide clarity and guidance on the importation process, reducing costs and increasing efficiency for businesses.
The event also highlighted the importance of trade facilitation in advancing renewable energy and energy efficiency; how simplified customs procedures and streamlined regulations can make it easier and more cost-effective to import renewable energy equipment, how accelerating the deployment of renewable energy schemes can help Nigeria achieve its energy security goals and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.
