By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has held a strategic engagement with a delegation from the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat to advance the implementation of the Simplified Trade Regime (STR), aimed at boosting small-scale cross-border trade.
The meeting, which took place at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, on March 23, 2026, focused on strengthening trade facilitation mechanisms and enhancing opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The Comptroller-General of Customs was represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, who reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to simplifying trade processes and promoting transparency.
“Our goal is to make trade easier, more transparent, and inclusive for small-scale traders, while ensuring compliance with national and regional trade regulations,” she said.
Leader of the AfCFTA delegation, Pedro Estevao, noted that Nigeria has been designated as the pilot country for the STR in West Africa, highlighting the country’s strategic position as the region’s largest market.
During the session, the NCS presented its draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementing the STR. The proposal outlines simplified customs processes covering informal cross-border trade, passenger baggage, and low-value e-commerce transactions. It also features the deployment of digital declaration systems and risk-based controls to improve efficiency.
A consultant with the AfCFTA Secretariat, Nabil Zibani, delivered a presentation on the continental STR framework, stressing the importance of accessible and transparent systems to enable MSMEs to comply with customs requirements and actively participate in regional trade.
Discussions identified key areas of alignment between the NCS draft SOP and the AfCFTA framework, including simplified documentation, digital platforms for trade declaration and clearance, adoption of de minimis thresholds for low-value goods, and policies promoting inclusive trade—especially for women and small businesses.
Both parties agreed on the need for continued technical collaboration to refine implementation strategies, address operational challenges, and ensure coherence between national and continental trade frameworks.
The engagement marks a significant step toward positioning Nigeria as a pilot country for the Simplified Trade Regime under AfCFTA, while reinforcing the NCS’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade, strengthening regional integration, and driving inclusive economic growth.
