The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Kano/Jigawa Area Command has joined forces with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) to strengthen trade compliance and boost transparency in commercial activities across the region.
The partnership was unveiled during a one-day stakeholder engagement on Saturday in Kano, aimed at promoting integrity, legal compliance, and collaboration between government agencies and the private sector.
The workshop, themed “Enhancing Trade Compliance and Adherence to Legal Regulations,” brought together representatives from security agencies, regulatory bodies, and the business community to discuss ways to streamline trade processes and enforce tax regulations.
Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Zone ‘B’, Nsikan Umoh, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to drive economic growth through efficient trade systems. He said Customs has adopted Artificial Intelligence and data analytics tools on the B’Odogwu platform to improve cargo assessment and clearance processes.
“Other initiatives such as the Authorised Economic Operator, Advance Ruling, and Time Release Study are also in place to accelerate trade and ensure compliance,” Umoh said in a statement issued by Customs Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent Tahir Balarabe.
Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC, Sa’ad Hannafi, called for stronger cooperation among law enforcement agencies and business operators, noting that Kano’s economy could only thrive under transparent and lawful trade practices.
KACCIMA President, Ambassador Usman Darma, reaffirmed the chamber’s commitment to promoting voluntary compliance among traders and deepening collaboration with regulatory agencies.
Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, head of the Kano/Jigawa Customs Command, said the engagement reflected the vision of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to build trust through dialogue and stakeholder partnership.
Kano State Commissioner for Commerce, Shehu Sagagi, commended the effort, describing it as vital to enhancing business discipline and expanding the state’s tax revenue base.