In a decisive step toward strengthening trade facilitation and enhancing supply chain security, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has convened a high-level Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum to officially sensitize the trading community on the migration from the Fast Track Scheme to the globally recognized Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme.
The forum, held on Tuesday, August 6, 2025, at BON Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, brought together critical stakeholders, including senior Customs officers, representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, members of the organized private sector, and captains of industry.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Zonal Coordinator for Zone A, Assistant Comptroller-General Osikhena Charles Orbih, emphasized that the transition marks a strategic shift in the NCS reform agenda anchored on global standards, risk-based operations, and collaborative partnerships.
He stated that the migration from Fast Track to the AEO model represented a significant milestone in Customs modernization. According to him, this transition signals a departure from gatekeeping and control-based processes to a system built on trust, compliance, and efficiency. The AEO Programme, he noted, aligns with the World Customs Organization (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards and has been designed to build a modernized, transparent and business-friendly customs administration in Nigeria.
The programme was piloted in Nigeria in April 2024 and officially launched in February 2025 after a series of stakeholder consultations, system testing, and institutional capacity building. ACG Orbih explained that the programme recognizes and rewards companies that consistently demonstrate compliance with customs and tax regulations by providing them with faster and more predictable clearance processes. He further revealed that a recent Time Release Study (TRS) conducted by the Service indicated that AEO-certified operators now enjoy significantly reduced clearance times, with measurable improvements already being recorded in operational efficiency, cost savings, and global competitiveness.
In his welcome address, Assistant Comptroller-General ZA Chiroma, who oversee the Post Clearance Audit (PCA) Unit of the Service, underscored the importance of the PCA reforms in complementing the objectives of the AEO Programme. He recalled that in December 2024, the PCA Unit was strategically repositioned under the Office of the Comptroller-General, with renewed leadership, clearer accountability, and dedicated zonal structures to ensure compliance and post-clearance revenue assurance.
He explained that the PCA regime now operating a risk-based audit framework that verifies trader compliance after cargo clearance, in line with relevant provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. This approach, he said, ensured that traders who enjoy simplified procedures under the AEO system remain compliant with customs laws and financial reporting standards. According to him, this synergy between AEO and PCA , and support the NCS goal of aligning with international customs best practices.
ACG Chiroma also announced that the Fast Track Scheme will be formally decommissioned on December 31, 2025, and urged all current beneficiaries to begin their transition by submitting new applications for AEO status through the official NCS trade portal. He assured stakeholders of a smooth and credible migration process, facilitated by a well-trained team of validators and an established AEO Unit with clear operational guidelines.
The engagement session provided stakeholders with the opportunity to share feedback, seek clarifications, and engage directly with Customs officials on key implementation issues such as validation procedures, inter-agency collaboration, compliance obligations, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
The Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its commitment to building a transparent, secure, and predictable trade environment by promoting collaboration between the public and private sectors. The Service further restated its readiness to pursue mutual recognition agreements with international partners and to strengthen the digital platforms that support the AEO programme’s implementation.
In concluding the address, ACG Orbih, on behalf of the Comptroller-General, called on all eligible operators importers, exporters, manufacturers, and logistics providers—to embrace the programme as a shared commitment to national development and economic growth. He described the AEO migration as a symbol of progress that will define the future of trade in Nigeria.
He thanked stakeholders for their time, attention, and unwavering support and expressed optimism that the forum marked the beginning of a deeper, results-driven partnership for the benefit of Nigeria’s economy and trading community.
