The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Kano/Jigawa Area Command, in collaboration with the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has organised a one-day stakeholder engagement to strengthen trade compliance and promote transparency in the business environment.
The sensitisation workshop, themed “Enhancing Trade Compliance and Adherence to Legal Regulations: The Critical Role of Law Enforcement Agencies and the Chamber of Commerce in Trade Facilitation and Enforcing Legal Tax Regulations,” was held in Kano on Saturday.
The event brought together business leaders, security agencies, and regulatory institutions to discuss strategies for improving integrity and accountability in trade operations.
In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Chief Superintendent of Customs Tahir Balarabe, the Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘B’, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Nsikan Umoh, said the workshop aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at achieving sustainable economic growth through efficient trade systems.
Umoh disclosed that the Service has introduced new technological tools, including Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics within the B’Odogwu platform for cargo assessment, as well as the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), Advance Ruling, and Time Release Study (TRS) initiatives, to fast-track clearance processes and ensure greater compliance.
Read Also: Customs Officer Found Dead in Katsina Hotel Room After Night with Three Women
On his part, the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC, Sa’ad Hannafi, emphasised the importance of cooperation between regulatory bodies and traders in curbing illegal trade practices and sanitising the commercial space.
“Kano, the commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria, thrives on trade. However, the full potential of this vibrant economy can only be realised through integrity, the rule of law, and adherence to regulations,” Hannafi said.
The President of KACCIMA, Ambassador Usman Darma, reiterated the chamber’s commitment to supporting enforcement agencies through awareness campaigns and advocacy to encourage voluntary compliance among traders.
Similarly, the Customs Area Controller of Kano/Jigawa Command, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, noted that the engagement was inspired by the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to foster stronger relationships with stakeholders through dialogue and collaboration.
Kano State Commissioner for Commerce, Hon. Shehu Sagagi, commended the organisers, describing the initiative as vital to improving business compliance and increasing tax revenue for the state.
“The Kano State Government is ready to collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure more traders comply with tax and regulatory obligations,” Sagagi said.
The event concluded with a group photograph of participants and a renewed pledge from stakeholders to promote lawful trade, accountability, and economic growth across the region.
