A second risk management workshop was held from 27 to 31 August 2018 in Abuja, Nigeria, aimed at building the capacity of countries in West and Central Africa to implement risk management and define a related strategy at regional level.
The workshop, hosted by the Nigeria Customs Service and enjoying financial support from the Japan Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF), brought together 24 officials responsible for risk management policy from 18 different countries to discuss how to improve intelligence sharing and enforcement methods in general, with a view to enhancing trade flows and travellers’ compliance with Customs laws and regulations and responding more effectively to security threats at national and regional level.
Expansion in global trade has forced Customs administrations to limit interventions on cross-border movements of goods, passengers and means of transport. It has therefore become crucial for Customs to apply more effective risk management strategies and techniques within their daily control activities.
The workshop provided participants with an opportunity to discuss synergies between Customs in the region, review their respective strategic objectives and identify emerging threats. Its participants were highly engaged in the group discussions as well as the theoretical and practical sessions, taking full advantage of the possibility to exchange views and share experiences among themselves and with the WCO facilitators.
The presentations and discussions on WCO tools and instruments, such as the Customs Risk Management Compendium, enabled participants to deepen their knowledge and capacity to develop a strategy and identify risks at regional level.