Okonjo-Iweala to customs: Improve risk management, reduce inspection rates to speed up cargo clearance

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has urged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to implement improved risk management methods and increase compliance in trade activities.

Okonjo-Iweala spoke on Wednesday in a virtual speech at the comptroller-general of customs (CGC) conference.

She highlighted that in many developed countries, less than one percent of shipments undergo physical inspection, whereas in Nigeria, about 90 percent of consignments are inspected, with a further nine percent scanned.

“Without improving risk management and reducing inspection rates accordingly, speeding up clearance in a meaningful manner will be impossible,” the director-general said.

“Better risk management will have to go hand in hand with better compliance, feedback from inspections, and less discretion in the part of the officials.”

Okonjo-Iweala stated that the objective of the initiative is to ensure customs rules and regulations are predictable, with compliance backed by suitable penalties.

“Personnel of the NCS should be encouraged to discharge their duties diligently,” she said.

“The predictability of tariffs and other measures remain limited, as fiscal policies measure often adjust tariffs, and it remains subject to a multitude of factors.”

She said the conference serves to build a coalition of support, as ambitious reforms are essential to strengthen trade.

On November 9, the WTO confirmed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current director-general, as the sole candidate for director-general role.

According to a statement from the organisation, Okonjo-Iweala confirmed her willingness to serve a second four-year term on September 16.