Nigeria Customs Service Zone B Sensitizes Officers, Stakeholders on AEO Program

By Husseina Yakubu
June 03, 2025

The Nigeria customs service(NCS) Zone B zonal headquarters Kaduna ,in a bid to boost trade facilitation and compliance, on Monday, June 2, 2025, held a sensitization program for officers and key stakeholders on the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) initiative.

This was disclosed in a statement by Chief Superintendent of Customs Ridwan Yusuf, the Customs Public Relations Officer Kaduna Area Command.

The event, which took place at the Zone B Headquarters Conference Hall, Kabala Doki, Kaduna, was declared open by Comptroller Abubakar Alkali, who represented the Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) of Customs, Zone B Adekunle Oloyede

He said the event reflects the NCS’s continued commitment to aligning with global trade standards through the AEO program, which enhances trust, transparency, and trade efficiency between Customs and compliant economic operators

Deputy Comptroller Abdulrahman Muazu of the Kaduna Area Command gave the opening remarks
and encouraged officers and stakeholders to seize the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program and put the knowledge into practical use.

The sensitization was held in two sessions. The first was dedicated to stakeholders, with participants including Terminal Operators from Kaduna Inland Dry Port and SKYBLUE Investment Bonded Terminal, Licensed Customs Agents, Excise Factories, and representatives from regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC, NDLEA, NAQS, DSS, and the Nigeria Police EOD unit.

A presentation on the General Overview of the AEO Program was delivered by Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, Bashir Ghali.

The second session was exclusive to Customs officers from the Zone Headquarters, Kaduna Area Command, Sokoto,Zamfara Area Command, Kebbi Area Command, and the Federal Operations Unit, Zone B.

Three technical presentations were delivered during the officers’ session,General Overview of AEO Program by Assistant Superintendent of Customs I Bashir Ghali,Role of Customs Officers in AEO by Assistant Superintendent of Customs II Abubakar Abdulmalik

Overview of AEO Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by Chief Superintendent Customs Susan Fan.

The session also featured an engaging discussion and interactive segment.

As part of the sensitization drive, the Team Lead presented 200 copies of the AEO Handbook to Comptroller Abubakar Alkali, who received them on behalf of the ACG.

The handbooks were subsequently distributed to all participants.

The session ended with an interactive Q&A segment, a vote of thanks by Alhaji Rasaq Salami, the Port Manager of Kaduna Inland Dry Port who appreciate customs for the gesture (End)