By Abbanobi -Eku Onyekachi
Abuja
Nigeria has relaunched her National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) to create greater collaboration towards an ecosystem where stakeholders can effectively work together to address difficulties and generate opportunities for the global marketplace.
This was contained in a press release from the Director of Press and Public Relations, Adebayo Thomas on Thursday
Dr Doris Anite, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI), stated at the re-launch ceremony in Abuja that combining the trade facilitation and liberalisation subcommittee of the Presidential Council on Industrial Revitalisation (PCIR) and the
National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) into a single entity was a strategic move aimed at achieving the country’s economic diversification and sustainable development goals.
She noted that the benefits of this committee to the present administration’s sustainable development initiatives are significant and cannot be emphasised.
Dr Anite reaffirmed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) established the NTFC in 2014 to ensure harmonised, standardised, and streamlined trade processes and procedures, which contribute to Nigeria’s ease of doing business. She urged all NTFC members to work together to enhance trade facilitation by worldwide
best practices, streamlining trade procedures and increasing efficiency to meet the NTFC’s goals and objectives.
In his remarks, the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, praised the Federal Government for re-launching the NTFC, stating: “The re-launch of the
nation’s trade facilitation committee comes at no better time than now when
global trade is facing various challenges and uncertainties.”
He stated his belief that the NTFC will revitalise and strengthen Nigerian economic competitiveness on a global scale. He emphasised the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to collaborating with all government agencies, the private sector, and development partners to execute the trade facilitation agreement.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary, FMITI, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi welcomed the Committee members, emphasising that the global economic landscape is continually changing and that Nigeria, like other countries, must strategically adapt. He stated that the relaunch represents the joint determination to push the frontiers of trade facilitation.
The NTFC established Trade Facilitation Centres/Desks in all 36 states of the
federation, including the FCT. These facilities monitor trade flows and the
movement of commodities and people.
The NTFC has 43 memberships from major relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, within the public and private sectors of the economy. The committee is chaired by the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, with the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service serving as vice chairperson.
