UK Reaffirms Commitment to Nigeria with 99% Duty-Free Access Under DCTS

By: Michael Mike

The United Kingdom (UK) has confirmed that Nigeria will continue to enjoy duty-free access on 99% of total goods exported to the UK market under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).

The DCTS is part of the UK’s strategy to support growing economies like Nigeria by reducing tariffs on thousands of goods, simplifying export rules for Nigerian businesses and making it easier to qualify for trade benefits. The scheme lowers import cost for UK businesses and offers consumers a wider range of affordable products.

Since its launch in June 2023, the Developing Countries Trading Scheme allows Nigeria and 36 other African countries to export over 3,000 products duty-free or at reduced tariffs to the UK, supporting Nigerian businesses to grow and become more competitive on the global stage.

Through the DCTS, Nigerian exporters can sell key goods like cocoa, yam, tomatoes, plantain, shrimp, and other agricultural products to the UK at reduced tariffs. The scheme also supports processed and value-added products like cocoa paste and cocoa butter, sesame and Palm oil, cashew nuts, cotton clothing, and cocoa paste, helping Nigeria move beyond raw materials exports.

Commenting on the DCTS, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, said: “As one of the UK’s most important partners in Africa, Nigeria stands at the heart of the UK’s global trade ambitions, and we want to strengthen the trade ties between our two great nations and unlock the power of sustainable and transformative growth in Nigeria and across emerging economies.

“A major advantage of the UK’s developing countries trading scheme is the reduction or complete elimination of duty-tariffs on everyday goods such as cashew nuts, cocoa, cotton, plantain, tomatoes, prawns, and sesame. This isn’t just about improved access into the UK market, it’s about building a fairer, freer global trading system that supports economic growth and job creation, both in developing countries and in the UK.”

Speaking further, Dr Montgomery added: “Through the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) we are continuing to work alongside the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) to tackle export challenges and ensure the DCTS is fully leveraged by Nigerian businesses to improve trade growth between our two countries.”
This trade framework is part of a wider UK effort to build strong economic ties across the world, with recent trade agreements also signed with major economies like India and the United States.

UK Reaffirms Commitment to Nigeria with 99% Duty-Free Access Under DCTS

Benue Killings: NSCDC Boss Directs Upscale of Intelligence Gathering

By: Michael Mike

The Commandant General (CG), of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi has condemned the gruesome massacre of unarmed civilians and charged his operatives on the need to upscale and expand their Intelligence gathering network to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

The CG made this statement during a scheduled visit to Benue state for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation alongside other security chiefs.

He commiserated with the Governor and people of Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area who lost their loved ones in the attack and assured that the Corps is working closely with other security agencies to put a stop to this barbaric act.

He decried the mindless killing of armless women and children in the unfortunate incident that erupted recently, noting that there was no justification whatsoever for the gruesome murder of innocent citizens.

The NSCDC boss, therefore gave a marching order to the Zonal Commander and the State Commandant to effectively deploy covert operatives, special forces and all tactical units to every nooks and crannies of the state while at the same time collaborating with other stakeholders to enhance a well coordinated operations for a renewed onslaught against the evil perpetrators.

“These killings must stop, and we must be very strategic, decisive, and resilient in our approach to restoration of peace and order in the State.

“All hands must be on deck. There must be maximum deployment of all special forces, counter terrorism unit, and intelligence operatives for
for both covert and overt operations.

“Just as Mr. President has directed, the perpetrators of this heinous crime must be brought to book, and we need to be on top of our game to make this happen,” the CG stated.

Dr Audi further assured that the High Command of the NSCDC would deploy more tactical operatives and logistics to support the Benue Command in boosting their operation for a more effective security coverage and promised to work closely with the Military, DSS, the Nigeria Police, the Indigenous Security apparatus and the critical stakeholders within the Communities to gather credible information that would lead to the arrests of those who carried out this dastardly act.

Audi thanked the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth Lornem Alia for the support to the State Command and reaffirmed his commitment to the restoration of peace, order and the safeguarding of all Critical National Assets and Infrastructure as well as the good people of the state.

Benue Killings: NSCDC Boss Directs Upscale of Intelligence Gathering

ECOWAS Seeks Strategies to Tackle Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade in West Africa

By: Michael Mike

The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr Omar Touray, in order to facilitate economic exchange across the region, has called for holistic approach in tackling issues that bordered on non-tariff barriers.

Non-tariff barriers are trade barriers that restrict imports or exports of goods or services through measures other than the imposition of tariffs.

Such barriers are subject to controversy and debate, as they may comply with international rules on trade yet serve protectionist purposes.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the opening of the two-day 94th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Touray decried the non-tariff barriers to often pose difficulty for advancing trade within the region, saying more needed to be done to achieve meaningful growth.

He said although ECOWAS institutions continued to pursue mandates towards integration and development of the region, more should be done to tackle regional and continental issues relating to trade, industry and investment promotion.

Touray asked the ministers to examine the question of Non-Tariff Barriers within the framework of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the AfCFTA, stressing that: “Non-tariff barriers have become a perennial obstacle to boosting regional trade, investment, industrialisation, competitiveness, and economic growth in our region.”

He noted that: “Despite numerous initiatives — including the Presidential Task Force on the Trade Liberalisation Scheme — the problem persists.”

He said: “In May, I travelled by road from Lagos to Cotonou to see the situation along the regional corridor and joint border post established at the Seme/Krake border between Nigeria and Benin.

“And saw first hand challenges posed by non-tariff barriers along the corridor.

“We must do everything to put an end to this and facilitate economic exchange across the region.”

On his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar reiterated the need for strategic dialogue that delivers more meaningful outcomes for ECOWAS Member States and their citizens.

Tuggar, who is the host minister and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, said: “The session comes at a time of critical reflection and decisive action, to remind ourselves of founding reasons of ECOWAS and other African Regional Economic Communities, essentially the fight against neo-colonialism.

“It has become necessary, whenever the opportunity arises, to remind ourselves that ECOWAS and Regional Integration in Africa was borne out of our yearning for economic decolonisation and not the other way round.

“Over course of our deliberations, we will consider and reflect wide range of reports, and proposals, concentrating on thematic and sectoral matters that are central to the development and stability of our region.

“These include critical issues related to economic integration, infrastructure development, health, education, agriculture and manifold institutional matters aimed at strengthening our Community.”

The minister underscored the need for strategic integration processes that were extensive and multifaceted, to reflect the complex realities of the region.

He urged the Council to approach such discussions with an ethos of collegiality, compromise, and flexibility, guided by a broader vision of a strong, united, and resilient regional economic community

“This session should be defined not only by the depth of our deliberations, but also by the courage of our decisions. I encourage us all to engage in open, constructive and foresighted discussions.

“Let us draw on our diverse expertise, share best practices and work collaboratively to ensure the decisions we make here will translate into meaningful outcomes for our Member States and the citizens of our Community,” he said.

He revealed the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), an initiative by President Bola Tinubu, scheduled to hold from Friday to Saturday in Abuja, would bolster private enterprise’s participation as the bonafide regional development partners.

According to him, this will draw participants from private and public sectors; policy makers, national and regional regulatory agencies, domestic and international investors, Development Financial Institutions, banks and startups.

ECOWAS Seeks Strategies to Tackle Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade in West Africa