Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has urged stricter data validation and broader stakeholder engagement in Nigeria’s ongoing fiscal and regulatory reforms. Speaking at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, Adeniyi hosted senior executives from the Beer Sectoral Group to deliberate on tax administration, trade transparency, and the proposed tax stamp policy.
Adeniyi stressed that policy decisions must be anchored on verifiable data and a shared understanding of market realities.
“When we are making policy decisions of this nature, the credibility and accuracy of data must never be in doubt,” he said.
He noted that while reforms aim to strengthen revenue assurance and compliance, industry figures presented to policymakers must remain beyond question.
Highlighting ongoing reforms, Adeniyi pointed to initiatives such as the Advance Ruling system and the Authorised Economic Operator programme, designed to reduce bottlenecks and improve efficiency across the supply chain.
On the proposed tax stamp framework, Adeniyi clarified that consultations are still ongoing and no final decision has been taken.
“If this initiative is legitimate and beneficial, then we all have a responsibility to ensure that we are heading in the right direction,” he stated.
He encouraged private-sector stakeholders to deepen engagement with government institutions to achieve a balanced outcome that protects revenue while sustaining industrial growth.
Girish Sharma, CEO of Guinness Nigeria Plc and leader of the delegation, acknowledged the importance of regulatory controls but argued that the beer industry is already highly structured and closely monitored, with minimal exposure to counterfeiting risks.
“From an end-to-end compliance perspective, we believe there is already sufficient transparency and oversight,” Sharma said.
He cautioned that additional regulatory burdens could have unintended economic consequences, given the sector’s significant contributions to employment, tax revenue, and national output.