Comptroller Atuluku Embarks On Familiarization And Stakeholder Engagement Tour Of Excise Factories, Bonded Warehouses For Effective Trade Facilitation
By Asuquo Nuwak
Comptroller Atuluku Embarks On Familiarization And Stakeholder Engagement Tour Of Excise Factories, Bonded Warehouses For Effective Trade Facilitation
••• She assures stakeholders of the command’s continued partnership to maintain a transparent and business-friendly environment.
In an effort to strengthen collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and key players in the excise and bonded warehouses, the Customs Area Controller of Area 1 command, Port Harcourt, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, has embarked on a familiarization and stakeholder engagement tour of major facilities within the command’s operations.
The report said the visit to the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), International Breweries Plc, QuickA, and Express Concerns Bonded Warehouses, were part of the command’s effort to promote efficient trade facilitation and ensure compliance with excise and customs regulations.
A statement issued and released by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Barilule Aanee, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, noted that the Service remains committed to fostering an environment where legitimate trade can thrive alongside effective enforcement of government fiscal policies.
During one of her visits, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, announced that customs cannot work in isolation, adding that their success depends on the level of cooperation they receive from their stakeholders.
Besides, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, noted that sustained engagement with industry operators would help the command to identify challenges, strengthen compliance culture, and develop joint solutions to improve service delivery.
During her visits to NBC and International Breweries, she commended the firms for their compliance with excise laws and their contributions to national development, through job creation and tax revenue. She assured them of the command’s continued partnership to maintain a transparent and business-friendly environment.
Aside from this, during her inspections at QuickA and Express Concerns Bonded Warehouses, the Customs Area Controller disclosed the importance of accurate inventory management, proper documentation, and strict adherence to customs procedures. In addition to this, she warned against practices that could undermine revenue generation, while urging operators to uphold high standards of compliance.
In response, the management teams of the facilities she visited, described the comptroller’s visit as both timely and encouraging, while noting that direct engagement with customs leadership will provide a valuable platform for dialogue and collaboration on operational challenges.
Furthermore, Comptroller Atuluku reaffirmed her commitment to maintaining a robust relationship with stakeholders in the maritime and excise sectors, while pledging that the command would continue to pursue the Service’s mandate with vigor, transparency, and professionalism.
She noted that the engagement is expected to form part of a broader strategy to deepen trust, promote compliance, and enhance operational efficiency across the excise and bonded warehouse value chain, as the core pillars of the Nigeria Customs Service’s modernization drive.
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