The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), represented by Assistant Comptroller Abubakar Hardo, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Ekay Asuquo, and CSC Lauretta Utubor, participated in the 74th World Customs Organization (WCO) Harmonized System Committee (HSC) meeting, held from September 16 to 27, 2024, at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
The Harmonized System Committee is responsible for managing the Harmonized System Nomenclature (HSN), a standardized system for classifying goods that facilitates global trade. Nigeria, as a Contracting Party, plays a critical role in these discussions, especially given the country’s large market size and significant volume of imports.
The HSC focuses on ensuring that goods are accurately classified under the appropriate tariff codes, which impacts global trade efficiency, transparency, and standardization. The committee also provides an avenue for resolving tariff classification disputes between customs authorities and economic operators.
At the meeting, CSC Lauretta Utubor, Nigeria’s Team Lead for Advance Rulings, made a presentation during the Leadership Management Development workshop on September 20, 2024. Her presentation highlighted the role of key management tools such as self-awareness, strategic communication, and change management in the successful implementation of Advance Rulings in Nigeria. She also emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to adopting global best practices and the efforts of Comptroller General Customs Adewale Adeniyi in promoting trade facilitation and customs modernization.
The NCS delegates’ participation in the 74th HSC meeting is expected to enhance Nigeria’s customs processes, strengthen decision-making, and support the nation’s leadership in trade facilitation across Africa.