Comptroller Sarah Wadinda, Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Lagos Industrial Area Command, has called on manufacturers and stakeholders to ensure full compliance with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act 2023, stressing that collaboration between the private sector and Customs is essential for achieving national economic objectives.
Speaking during a visit to the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ikeja plant on Tuesday, Wadinda underscored the Service’s commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement.
“I’m here to remind us that we remain partners. Without your presence and operations, an officer cannot be posted here. Section 29 of the NCS Act highlights the importance of collaborating with you transparently and consulting with you to enhance cooperation and compliance with Customs regulations,” Wadinda told NBC management.
Welcoming the visit, NBC Plant Manager Olusola Owoye described it as a reflection of the strong relationship between the company and regulatory bodies.
“This reflects the level of support we enjoy from regulatory bodies. We’ve received valuable feedback from the Area Controller herself, including areas of opportunity we can capitalise on as a company,” Owoye said.
He added, “If this level of partnership and commitment to collaboration with corporate organisations continues, I believe the country is on the right track.”
Comptroller Wadinda noted that the engagement was part of a wider tour of industrial and multinational facilities under her command. She praised companies maintaining full compliance with customs regulations and urged those yet to align with the law to do so promptly.
“For those not adhering to the regulations, we emphasised the importance of acting within the law and upholding best practices in production and manufacturing,” she said.
She also disclosed ongoing efforts by the command to identify and regularise factories operating outside regulatory oversight.
“We’re actively identifying non-compliant factories, including those operating covertly. Our aim is to bring them into the fold, register them, and ensure they begin to meet their obligations,” Wadinda concluded.