The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has called for inclusive stakeholder engagement and stricter data validation in the implementation of fiscal and regulatory reforms affecting key sectors of the economy.
Adeniyi made the call on Monday during a meeting between the NCS leadership and the Beer Sectoral Group at the Service Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
The engagement brought together senior executives from leading brewing companies across Nigeria to deliberate on tax administration, trade transparency and the proposed tax stamp policy currently being considered by the Federal Government.
Speaking during the meeting, the Customs boss stressed the importance of relying on credible and verifiable data in shaping policies that could significantly impact industries and the broader economy.
According to him, there is a need for greater clarity in defining illicit trade and understanding the movement of products across borders and into unauthorised markets.
“We need to have a clear understanding of what constitutes illicit trade. Some of these products are legitimately manufactured in Nigeria. In other jurisdictions, customs administrations are already engaging in discussions around how such products find their way across borders and into unauthorised markets,” Adeniyi said.
He added that government decisions on taxation and regulation must be supported by accurate industry data to avoid unintended consequences.
“One thing we need to understand more clearly is where some of these estimates came from. When we are making policy decisions of this nature, the credibility and accuracy of data must never be in doubt,” he stated.
The CGC also highlighted ongoing reforms introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service to facilitate trade and improve efficiency within the supply chain.
He listed initiatives such as the Advance Ruling system and the Authorised Economic Operator programme as part of efforts aimed at reducing bottlenecks and promoting compliance.
“We have consistently introduced initiatives aimed at facilitating trade. We introduced the Advance Ruling. We introduced the Authorised Economic Operator programme. We also rolled out several reforms on our own initiative, not because we were under pressure, but because we recognised the need to improve trade facilitation,” he said.
On the proposed tax stamp policy, Adeniyi clarified that consultations were still ongoing and that no final decision had been reached on implementation.
“As far as I am concerned, consultations are still ongoing. If this initiative is legitimate and beneficial, then we all have a responsibility to ensure that we are heading in the right direction,” he added.
He urged private sector operators to sustain engagement with relevant government agencies to ensure policies strike a balance between revenue generation and industrial growth.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Girish Sharma, said the beer industry had concerns over the proposed tax stamp framework despite recognising the importance of regulatory controls.
Sharma argued that the beer sector remains one of the most structured and closely monitored industries in Nigeria, with minimal exposure to counterfeiting.
“We fully understand the purpose and importance of tax stamps, particularly in industries where counterfeiting is a major concern. However, within the beer sector, counterfeiting is minimal,” he said.
He maintained that existing monitoring systems already provide sufficient transparency across the production and distribution chain.
“From an end-to-end compliance perspective, we believe there is already sufficient transparency and oversight,” Sharma noted.
The Guinness Nigeria CEO also emphasised the sector’s contribution to employment generation, tax revenue and economic growth, warning that excessive regulatory measures could negatively affect the industry if not properly calibrated.
