Nigeria Customs Champion Reinvigorated Regional Trade Efficiency

…As Finance Minister Flags Off 4th WCO-WCA Partners’ Conference

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reaffirmed its position as a regional leader in trade reforms last Wednesday, 9 April 2025, at the opening of the 4th World Customs Organization (WCO) Donors’ Conference for the West and Central Africa (WCA) Region, when it pushed for fresh initiatives to boost regional trade.

CGC Adeniyi speaking during the conference

The high-level event, which took place at the Muhammadu Buhari Conference Hall in Abuja, marked the first WCO-WCA donors’ conference since the COVID-19 pandemic and drew key stakeholders committed to modernising customs operations and boosting regional economic integration.

According to a release by the spokesman of NCS, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada,  the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Olawale Edun, while declaring the conference open, commended the NCS for its outstanding performance.

“I am proud to commend the Nigeria Customs Service for its remarkable performance—achieving a 90 per cent increase in revenue collection and surpassing its target by 20 per cent. These achievements, driven by modernised processes and WCO-supported initiatives, illustrate how strategic investments and technology can revolutionise trade and strengthen regional integration,” he stated.

In his remarks, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, addressed the persistent technical and operational challenges confronting customs administrations in the region. He identified limited digital infrastructure and poor interconnectivity among key issues hindering trade facilitation.

“Our region faces significant hurdles, from the rapid evolution of e-commerce to the complexities of technical procedures. However, Nigeria has made innovative strides with initiatives such as deploying the indigenously developed B’Odogwu platform, installing advanced scanners, and the comprehensive training of over 5,000 officers,” he said.

CGC Adeniyi further outlined five strategic initiatives requiring donor support. These include adopting artificial intelligence for anti-smuggling operations, developing a Regional Single Window system, and expanding digital infrastructure to enhance inter-agency collaboration and trade transparency.

The conference brought together distinguished delegates, including Mr Ebenezer Tafili, representing the Secretary General of the WCO; Mr Amadou Konaté, Vice-Chair of WCO-WCA and Director-General of Mali Customs; Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency; along with several heads of customs, donor agencies, Nigeria owned Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Limited, diplomatic representatives, and industry stakeholders.