Customs CG hails BAT Nigeria’s compliance, seeks better industry ties - Punch Newspapers

Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi (right) and BAT Nigeria official during the visit. CREDIT: BAT Nigeria

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, has called for deeper collaboration between the service and the manufacturing sector to boost revenue mobilisation, trade facilitation, investment and exports. Adeniyi made the call during a visit to BAT Nigeria’s manufacturing facility in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he inspected the company’s operations and engaged its management on customs compliance and manufacturing competitiveness. The Customs CG, who recalled visiting the facility more than 23 years ago as a Customs officer, said the transformation of the plant demonstrated the impact of sustained investment in Nigeria. “When you talk about a Nigerian operation of a multinational company, and you see the facility that existed more than 20 years ago and return to find that the story has continued to evolve positively, as a Nigerian, you cannot but be delighted,” he said. Adeniyi commended BAT Nigeria’s compliance culture, saying his inspection of the company’s import, factory and excise operations showed a high level of governance and transparency. “I know the level of compliance that you have demonstrated, not just in the importation of your raw materials, but also in your factory and excise operations. What I have seen today reflects a high level of transparency, governance and accountability,” the Comptroller-General stated. He said the NCS was increasingly focused on balancing revenue collection with trade facilitation to create a more conducive environment for compliant businesses. “The more you pay attention to revenue and trade facilitation together, the more you create an environment where business can be done with greater ease, and the higher the potential for turnover and economic activity,” he said. The Customs chief also expressed support for BAT Nigeria’s planned participation in the Authorised Economic Operator programme, describing the company as a strong candidate based on its compliance record. UCH health workers begin indefinite strike over director’s reinstatement N5.53bn contraband-laden containers in Rivers Interswitch seeks better digital payments across schools “We will be more than happy to welcome you into the family of AEO-certified companies,” he said, adding that Customs would engage relevant officials to facilitate the timely completion of the process within applicable regulations. Adeniyi also expressed support for the expansion of Nigerian-made products into international markets, saying the NCS would continue to facilitate legitimate exports within its mandate and work with relevant international counterparts where necessary. The visit came against the backdrop of BAT Nigeria’s manufacturing and export operations. The company said it had invested more than $185m in manufacturing infrastructure in Nigeria, while third-party suppliers supporting its operations had invested more than $30m. The company also said its operations and value chain support more than 350,000 direct and indirect jobs across Nigeria. Speaking during the visit, BAT Nigeria’s Managing Director, Yarub Al-Bahrani, said sustained engagement between industry and government remained important as Nigeria sought to strengthen domestic manufacturing and economic activity. “A modern manufacturing facility is not an island. Its impact extends across the wider economy through the people it employs, the suppliers it supports and the logistics networks within its value chain,” Al-Bahrani said. He said the company’s engagement with Customs extended beyond regulatory compliance to include cooperation on sustainable manufacturing, trade and economic development. The visit followed a June 2026 Memorandum of Understanding between the NCS and BAT Nigeria, which established a framework for collaboration on intelligence sharing, capacity building, coordinated enforcement and regulatory compliance. Saheed Oyelakin Saheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.

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