TEXT OF ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 2024 COMPTROLLER-GENERAL OF CUSTOMS CONFERENCE AT TRANSCORP HILTON HOTEL, ABUJA, NOVEMBER 13, 2024, AS DELIVERED BY THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, MALAM NUHU RIBADU
Protocols
1. I am delighted to join you at this year's Comptroller-General's conference. I salute the officers and men of the Customs Service for your dedication to duty and our country.
When I assumed office last year, I set out with a clear and unwavering vision - to strengthen Nigeria's economic base and deliver positive growth and development for the benefit of all. Eighteen months later, the vision remains unchanged. In pursuing this vision, we have built upon existing foundations while introducing necessary reforms to adapt to our evolving economic realities. Our focus has been on strengthening what works, refining what needs improvement, and introducing new initiatives where gaps exist. We recognised that specific economic policies, though useful in their time, needed to be realigned with current global economic dynamics to better serve our national interests and the well-being of our people.
2. We pursued this vision and embarked on bold and necessary economic reforms. Working with expert advice and carefully considering our unique circumstances, we implemented strategic policy adjustments to strengthen our economy. Removing fuel subsidies and unifying our exchange rate system were crucial steps toward building a more transparent and sustainable economic framework. While these decisions required short-term adjustments from all Nigerians, they were essential to redirect our resources toward productive investments that will yield long-term benefits for our people. These reforms have already shown positive results, setting the stage for sustainable economic growth and improved prosperity for all Nigerians.
3. Building on these foundational reforms, we have expanded our focus to strengthen Nigeria's global trade and investment position. Through strategic initiatives, we are enhancing trade facilitation, modernising our port infrastructure, and streamlining business processes to reduce trade barriers. Our commitment to creating an enabling business environment has resonated with the international investment community. The confidence in our economy is reflected in the significant surge in foreign direct investments. In less than two years in office, my administration has received over $30 billion in commitments from foreign investors. This achievement demonstrates that our policies yield positive results, making Nigeria increasingly attractive for domestic and international investors. More importantly, these improvements create new opportunities for Nigerian businesses to participate more actively in global trade.
4. Central to the success of these economic initiatives is the role of our strategic institutions and their dedicated personnel. Our vision required government agencies to proactively align their statutory responsibilities with the broader national economic objectives. Agencies needed to demonstrate initiative in identifying opportunities within their mandates that would best serve and advance our national aspirations. I am pleased to note that the Nigeria Customs Service is one of the agencies that has risen to this expectation, demonstrating how government institutions can effectively contribute to our economic transformation agenda while fulfilling their core mandates.
5. This alignment is demonstrated in the Service's comprehensive modernisation agenda. Responding to our administration's call for enhanced trade facilitation and economic growth, the Service has introduced significant reforms, including the Advanced Ruling system and the Authorised Economic Operator Program. These initiatives align with global best practices and show how agencies can innovatively implement solutions that advance our national economic objectives while meeting international standards. Such reforms enhance trade facilitation and create a more predictable business environment that supports our broader financial goals.
6. The results of these initiatives across the Service's core mandates have been encouraging. The Nigeria Customs Service has shown remarkable progress in revenue generation, enhancing the government's capacity to fund critical national development projects. The Service is strengthening Nigeria's position as a trade-friendly nation through strategic reforms, particularly in export promotion and port efficiency. This has contributed significantly to our improved global ranking and ease of doing business. The Service has also demonstrated that effective trade facilitation can coexist with robust regulatory compliance, as evidenced by its enhanced border security and anti-smuggling operations. These achievements affirm our administration's belief that public institutions can effectively drive transformative change when adequately aligned with national objectives.
7. While these results are encouraging, they represent only the beginning of what we can achieve through focused institutional reforms and alignment with national objectives. It is, therefore, fitting that this conference centres on the theme "NCS Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose." This theme reflects our administration's broader vision of fostering strategic partnerships and collaborative approaches to governance and economic management. It acknowledges that sustainable progress in today's interconnected global economy requires us to strengthen existing alliances while building new ones, always guided by clear purpose and shared objectives.
8. Let me assure you that our administration remains committed to supporting the Nigeria Customs Service in its modernisation and reform initiatives. We will continue to provide the necessary policy backing and enablement to strengthen the Service's capacity to deliver on its mandates. This includes support for technological advancement, infrastructure development, and capacity-building programs that align with global best practices.
9. As you convene for your deliberations over the next few days, I urge you to build upon these foundations with clear cognisance of our regional and continental obligations. Your discussions should be timely and strategic, considering Nigeria's role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and our position as West Africa's largest economy. Focus on innovative approaches to strengthen existing partnerships and forge new ones to advance our national interests within this expanding trade landscape. Your deliberations should chart a path for enhancing our trade processes and compliance frameworks in ways that position Nigeria to maximise the opportunities presented by regional and continental integration while maintaining robust border security. The outcomes of this conference should provide a clear roadmap for achieving these objectives in line with our national economic aspirations.
10. To our international partners and stakeholders present today, your participation at this conference exemplifies the global dimension of our reform agenda. As Africa's largest economy, Nigeria is determined to deepen its integration into global value chains and strengthen its position as a reliable trading partner. Our commitment to sustainable economic reforms, trade facilitation, and creating an enabling business environment is firm and irreversible. We see our international partnerships as crucial catalysts in our journey towards becoming a more competitive player in global trade, particularly as we position ourselves to harness the opportunities presented by expanding regional and continental markets.
11. Distinguished participants, as we forge ahead with these partnerships and celebrate our progress thus far, we must focus on the journey ahead. Economic transformation is a continuous process that requires sustained commitment, innovation, and adaptation to emerging global trends. The Nigeria Customs Service, as a critical facilitator of international trade and guardian of our borders, will continue to play a fundamental role in advancing our national economic objectives. The success of our reform agenda significantly depends on the Service's ability to balance trade facilitation with regulatory compliance while fostering meaningful partnerships.
12. As I declare this conference open, I encourage all participants to bring their expertise, insights, and innovative ideas to the discussions ahead. Your deliberations over the next few days should address current challenges and anticipate future developments in global trade. The collective outcome of your engagement will be valuable in shaping Nigeria's trade policies and strengthening our position in the international trading system. I look forward to receiving the recommendations from this conference, particularly those that will enhance our trade facilitation initiatives while ensuring the effective administration of our borders.
May God bless the Nigeria Customs Service.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you.