By Our Reporter
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu has solicited stronger partnership and cooperation with the Nigeria Customs Service to drive economic growth and bolster security in the state.
Governor Otu made the call, Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, at the Nigeria Customs Service Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
In his opening remarks, Governor Otu commended the Customs Service for its outstanding role in national revenue generation and security, acknowledging its impressive ₦6.1 trillion revenue haul in 2024.
He noted that the Cross River Command, by record, contributed approximately ₦200 billion to this feat, underscoring the state’s strategic relevance.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of Customs officers deployed to Cross River State, particularly those engaged in anti-smuggling operations at the Mfum and Ikang borders with Cameroon.
To support their work, he revealed that the state government recently donated operational vehicles to the Cross River Customs Command to strengthen surveillance capacity.
The high-level meeting focused on deepening collaboration in key areas, including export promotion, the revitalization of the Calabar Free Trade Zone and Tinapa Business Resort, and support for the over 50,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) currently hosted by the state.
Governor Otu emphasized the intention of Cross River State Government to ramp up export activities and sought Customs’ expertise in facilitating seamless export procedures for local producers and genuine businesspeople in the state.
The Governor also shared updates on ongoing economic initiatives, including the development of the Bakassi Deep Sea Port, stressing the vital role of Customs in ensuring their success. He appealed for enhanced Customs presence and operations to inject life into the economic zones in the state; particularly Tinapa Free Zone and the Calabar Free Trade Zone.
In his response, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, expressed appreciation for the state government’s recognition and support. He detailed recent initiatives by the Service to improve trade facilitation, including the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program and the Advanced Ruling System, which have significantly enhanced Nigeria’s trade environment. These reforms, he noted, contributed to the Nigeria Customs Service’s improved performance ranking in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) assessment.
Adeniyi particularly welcomed the Governor’s commendation of Customs personnel in Cross River and pledged the Service’s full support for the revival of Tinapa and the success of other economic projects in the state.
“Our trade facilitation programmes were designed from the blueprint provided by the President in his policy advisory document at the inception of the administration,” the CGC said and assured that the Nigeria Customs Service is committed to supporting Cross River State’s economic vision through efficient customs procedures, particularly at Tinapa and the upcoming Bakassi Deep Sea Port.”
The meeting concluded on an optimistic note, with both leaders expressing confidence that the strengthened partnership would yield significant dividends for economic development, national security, and revenue generation.
