REBELS TO WITHDRAW FROM KEY DR CONGO TOWN 'AFTER US REQUEST'. (PHOTO)

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 Rebels to withdraw from key DR Congo town 'after US request' The M23 rebel group has said it would withdraw from the eastern DR Congo town of Uvira at the request of the US administration, which had criticised seizure of the town last week as a threat to mediation efforts. The rebels entered Uvira, on the border with Burundi, less than a week after the presidents of Congo and Rwanda met with US President Donald Trump in Washington and affirmed their commitment to a peace deal known as the Washington Accords. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that Rwanda's actions in eastern Congo violated the Washington Accords and vowed to "take action to ensure promises made to the President are kept." A report by a United Nations group of experts in July said Rwanda exercised command and control over the rebels. Rwanda denies supporting M23 and has blamed Congolese and Burundian forces for the renewed fighting. Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Allia...

COMPTROLLER-GENERAL OF CUSTOMS MEETS WITH AfCFTA SECRETARY GENERAL AT BIASHARA AFRIKA 2024 TO ENHANCE INTRA-AFRICAN TRADE. (PHOTOS). #PRESS RELEASE.


 PRESS RELEASE


COMPTROLLER-GENERAL OF CUSTOMS MEETS WITH AfCFTA SECRETARY GENERAL AT BIASHARA AFRIKA 2024 TO ENHANCE INTRA-AFRICAN TRADE


1. The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, held a high-level meeting with the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, on the margins of the Biashara Afrika 2024 forum, hosted in Kigali, Rwanda, from 9th to 11th October 2024. This significant engagement brought together key stakeholders to discuss ways to enhance intra-African trade and foster deeper economic integration.


2. The meeting between the CGC and the Secretary-General provided a unique opportunity to refine strategies aimed at improving trade facilitation under the AfCFTA agreement. Discussions centered on addressing existing bottlenecks and encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the agreement, given their critical role in boosting intra-African trade. Particular emphasis was placed on the role of Customs in these efforts.


3. During the meeting, the AfCFTA Secretary General praised the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its progressive initiatives, including the pilot phase of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, the implementation of Advanced Rulings, and the conduct of Time Release studies. “These initiatives have positioned the NCS as a benchmark for customs administrations across Africa,” he added. 


4. In response, Comptroller-General Adeniyi commended the Secretary-General for his unwavering commitment to advancing the AfCFTA’s goals, despite the resource constraints faced by the Secretariat. He also acknowledged the critical support provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the legislative arm through the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. “The Act has been instrumental in providing the necessary legal framework for implementing initiatives that align with the government’s vision of making Nigeria the most efficient trading nation on the continent, fostering SME growth, and boosting exports to strengthen intra-African trade,” he said.


5. The high point of the conversation was the recent achievement of Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa, CEO of LE LOOK Nigeria Limited, who became the first woman to export goods under the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) of the AfCFTA to East, Central, and North African countries. Her success, marked by the export of goods on 16th July 2024 from Apapa Port in Lagos, underscores the growing opportunities for Nigerian businesses in the continental market. 


6. A key outcome of the meeting was the AfCFTA Secretariat’s commitment to develop a concept note outlining the way forward for the free trade area. In turn, the NCS pledged to bring these discussions to the Heads of Customs Administrations platform in Africa, ensuring a coordinated approach to addressing customs-related challenges across the continent.


7. The Biashara Afrika, now in its second edition, has established itself as a formidable platform for engagement between African public and private actors on the effective implementation of the AfCFTA. This year's forum focused on addressing the evolving challenges in the business environment and seeking innovative solutions to facilitate cross-border trade.


ABDULLAHI MAIWADA

Chief Superintendent of Customs

National Public Relations Officer

For Comptroller-General of Customs

13 October 2024.

More photos below. 








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