The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has engaged with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to deliberate on the areas of friction and bottlenecks in the clearing process at the ports which led to the temporary suspension of the 4 per-cent Free on Board (FOB) charges.
Manufcturers and their allies had been at the forefront of mounting criticism against the Customs following the reintroduction of the earlier suspended import surcharge.
Burdened with the ensuing clatches, the two parties met on Friday, 26th September 2025, with a resolve to finally deliberate on the areas of friction in the overall interest of the nation’s international trade.
President of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye who played host to the Customs High command led by the Comptroller- General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, at the association’ s office in Ikeja, Lagos, had complained of the suffocating atmosphere created for his members by the re- introduction of the 4 per cent FOB on imports as well as what he described as the teething problems thrown up by the newly introduced indigenous customs trade portal, B’Odogwu.
He noted that it had become imperative to engage with the Customs to ensure these problems are resolved amicably to enable the manufacturers enjoy seamless customs procedures at the port.
MAN President Otunba Francis Meshioye outlined the key operational challenges facing manufacturers, ranging from multiple checkpoints on trade routes and frequent clearance system alerts to technical glitches on the B’Odogwu platform.
These, he said, had eroded competitiveness and increased costs for manufacturers struggling to meet production targets.
Otunba Meshioye also seized the opportunity to congratulate the Customs boss on his emergence as the Chairman of World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council.
Responding, the Customs CG said the service recognized the importance of the manufacturing sector as the backbone of Nigeria’s industrial development, noting that the success of that sector directly connects to the nation’s nation’s economic prosperity.
The Customs boss explained that the recent development in which the Ministry of Finance directed the suspension of the 4% FOB charge have opened pathways for deeper dialogue between the two institutions.
According to him, ‘while this charge exists as a legal provision under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, effective implementation requires genuine consultations, like the ones we’re having today, with those that it impacts most directly.
‘This process of consultation, therefore, balances fiscal responsibilities with industrial growth imperatives.
‘The Nigeria Customs Service has consistently supported manufacturing through concrete initiatives that recognize the strategic importance of industrial competitiveness to our national economic objectives, adding that, ‘our support extends to structural trade facilitation and improvements’.
The CGC further disclosed that the service has concluded the process of developing a comprehensive framework for establishing one-stop shops that will revolutionize how manufacturers and their allies interact with customs and other regulatory agencies.
These initiatives, he noted, aim to eliminate bureaucratic processes that frustrate legitimate business operations as customs continued to maintain robust security and compliance standards.
He recalled some of the policies that the customs have implemented to further make clearing process seamless and less cumbersome such as carrying out ‘systematic streamlining of checkpoints along our major highways, reducing unnecessary delays that hurt costs without adding value to revenue generation or our security outcomes.
‘Digital transformations lie at the heart of our trade facilitation strategies.
‘We have invested in systems like the B’ Odogwu platform that provide real-time clearance capabilities, automated risk assessments, and seamless integration with the supply chain system. Technology should eliminate friction in the supply chain.
‘All of these technology initiatives complement our policy frameworks to create comprehensive support for manufacturing sector groups’.
He disclosed that the Customs has aligned B’Odogwu system into the National Single Window Project, which is expected to come on stream in the first quarter of 2026′.
Outlining the role of Customs which is to facilitate legitimate Adeniy the role of customs which is to facilitate legitimate trade trade, he said the NCS will also continue to protect the nation’s borders and collect appropriate revenues.
Aligning these roles with that of the manufacturers, which is to drive industrial production, create employment, and contribute to the nation’s economic prosperity, he noted that, ‘These roles are complementary, and they require this kind of collaboration that we’re having to achieve optimal outcomes’.
Going forward, the CGC announced that manufacturers who have already paid the 4% Free on Board (FOB) charge but are not yet onboarded, under Customs Tariff Chapters 98 and 99, will not lose their money.
The Comptroller-General of Customs reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to balancing its revenue collection duties with trade facilitation.
He highlighted the Economic Operator Program (AEO), Advance Ruling framework, and Time Release Study as part of ongoing reforms to make clearance processes faster and more predictable.
Beyond the credit scheme for 4% FOB payments, the consultation produced several other key outcomes.
Manufacturers importing raw materials, machines, and spare parts under Chapters 98 and 99 of the Customs Tariff will now benefit from full exemptions from the 4% FOB charge.
Also, MAN members not yet onboarded will be fast-tracked, and a tripartite task team comprising the Ministry of Finance, NCS, and MAN will develop modalities for expedited onboarding.
The two organisations also agreed on the exemptions which were similarly extended to government projects with import duty waivers, humanitarian and life-saving goods, commercial airline spare parts, and equipment for the Presidential Initiative on Healthcare value chain.
Customs and manufacturers further agreed to establish a formal consultation mechanism for regular policy dialogue, real-time feedback, and periodic review of progress.
The NCS also committed to streamlining checkpoints, integrating digital clearance systems, and expanding technology-driven solutions for automated risk assessment and real-time cargo release.
Otunba Meshioye commended NCS for the steps taken, describing the outcomes as ‘a strong signal of government’s commitment to creating a competitive and supportive manufacturing environment’.
The CGC Adeniyi, in turn, emphasised that constructive dialogue was key to building a customs system that supports economic growth while safeguarding national revenue.
