The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has called for broader stakeholder engagement and stricter data validation in the implementation of fiscal and regulatory reforms affecting key sectors of the economy.
Adeniyi made the call on Monday, 11 May 2026, when the Nigeria Customs Service hosted the leadership of the Beer Sectoral Group at the Service Headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting, held at the CGC’s Board Room in Maitama, brought together senior executives from major brewing companies to discuss tax administration, trade transparency and concerns surrounding the proposed tax stamp policy currently under consideration by the government.
Addressing the delegation, the Customs boss stressed that policy decisions affecting critical sectors must be based on credible data and a proper understanding of market realities.
“We need to have a clear understanding of what constitutes illicit trade. Some of these products are legitimately manufactured in Nigeria. In other jurisdictions, customs administrations are already engaging in discussions around how such products find their way across borders and into unauthorised markets,” Adeniyi said.
He noted that while the government remains committed to strengthening revenue assurance and regulatory compliance, industry data presented to policymakers must be accurate and verifiable.
“One thing we need to understand more clearly is where some of these estimates came from. When we are making policy decisions of this nature, the credibility and accuracy of data must never be in doubt,” he added.
The CGC further highlighted ongoing reforms introduced by the Service to improve trade facilitation and reduce bottlenecks across the supply chain.
According to him, initiatives such as the Advance Ruling system and the Authorised Economic Operator programme were introduced proactively to improve efficiency and support legitimate trade.
“We have consistently introduced initiatives aimed at facilitating trade. We introduced the Advance Ruling. We introduced the Authorised Economic Operator programme. We also rolled out several reforms on our own initiative, not because we were under pressure, but because we recognised the need to improve trade facilitation,” he stated.
Speaking on the proposed tax stamp framework, Adeniyi clarified that consultations are still ongoing and that no final decision has been taken on implementation.
“As far as I am concerned, consultations are still ongoing. If this initiative is legitimate and beneficial, then we all have a responsibility to ensure that we are heading in the right direction,” he said.
He urged stakeholders in the private sector to continue engaging relevant government institutions to ensure a balanced policy outcome capable of protecting government revenue without stifling industrial growth.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Girish Sharma, said the industry visited the Customs leadership to present concerns over the proposed tax stamp policy, which he described as a major issue within the sector.
Sharma acknowledged the importance of tax stamps in sectors vulnerable to counterfeiting but argued that the beer industry already operates under strict regulatory oversight with limited exposure to counterfeit products.
“We fully understand the purpose and importance of tax stamps, particularly in industries where counterfeiting is a major concern. However, within the beer sector, counterfeiting is minimal,” he said.
He added that the industry already maintains robust monitoring systems that provide transparency across production and distribution chains.
“From an end-to-end compliance perspective, we believe there is already sufficient transparency and oversight,” Sharma stated.
The Guinness Nigeria CEO also highlighted the sector’s contribution to employment, government revenue and economic growth, warning that additional regulatory measures could negatively affect the industry if not carefully implemented.
