ECOWAS delegates hammering out customs-standardization plan for member nations

Delegates held a three-day workshop to accelerate the standardization and simplification of customs procedures among the Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) member states.
The workshop began today at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Gwagwalada.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Trade, Customs & Free Movement Laouali Chaibou welcomed the delegates to the workshop. By standardizing the customs codes, the 15 member countries continue to work toward building an integrated trading block to facilitate self-sufficiency, peace and prosperity.
“(The community customs code spells out) extensive harmonization, which is conceived as a means of contributing to the realization of the customs union, within which the customs administrations of the Member States are required to apply at the external borders, the Common External Tariff (CET) and the other provisions' regulatory framework for trade in a consistent and coherent manner," Chaibou said.
Assistant Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service Patience Iferi also emphasized the need for standardized customs procedures to accelerate regional trade growth while ensuring the security of the member countries' borders.
The delegates will review the draft code, which is based on international codes and the European Union's customs code. The draft incorporates the best practices of similar regulations.