The Adeniyi Press Briefing at the Presidential Villa

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

On Friday, 14 November 2025, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi addressed journalists at the Presidential Villa’s “Meet the Press” platform, delivering a landmark briefing that set the tone for Nigeria’s leadership role in continental trade diplomacy. His remarks were anchored on the upcoming maiden Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) Conference, scheduled for 17–19 November 2025 in Abuja.

Key Highlights from Adeniyi’s Briefing

• Renewed Mandate from the Presidency
  • President Bola Ahmed Tinubu extended Adeniyi’s tenure with clear performance targets:
    • Trade facilitation
    • Port decongestion
    • Modernisation of cross-border systems
  • This reflects a deliberate policy shift to use trade as a driver of economic growth and poverty alleviation.
• Nigeria as a Hub for Intra-African Trade
  • Adeniyi emphasized Nigeria’s ambition to become a central hub for intra-African commerce under the AfCFTA framework.
  • He noted that Customs must be at the heart of integration, enforcing rules of origin and ensuring genuine application of trade preferences.
• Strategic Engagements Across Africa
  • Recent meeting in Ghana with the AfCFTA Secretary-General underscored Nigeria’s push for Customs-led implementation of the free trade regime.

Adeniyi stressed that past regional trade failures stemmed from excluding Customs early in the process.

• C-PACT Summit in Abuja (17–19 Nov 2025)
  • Over 30 Customs administrations registered, with 22 Directors-General confirmed.
  • Strong private-sector participation signals growing confidence in Nigeria’s trade leadership.
  • For the first time, Nigeria will host Ian Sanders, Secretary-General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) — a symbolic recognition of Nigeria’s rising influence.
• Export Growth and Continental Focus
  • Nigeria’s exports have grown by 30% in the past two years.
  • The challenge now is to redirect trade flows towards African markets, strengthening intra-African commerce.
• Institutional Support and Alignment
  • Backing from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, AFREXIMBANK, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, and port authorities.
  • Adeniyi described this alignment as a “historic window” for Nigeria to command its role in Africa’s economic transformation.
• Call to Action for the Press
  • Adeniyi urged journalists to raise awareness about the summit.
  • The first day will feature direct conversations with private-sector operators to identify barriers to cross-border trade.

Significance of the Briefing

• Policy Direction: Signals Nigeria’s strategic pivot towards trade-led development, aligning Customs reforms with national economic goals.
• Continental Leadership: Positions Nigeria as a champion of AfCFTA implementation, ensuring Customs plays a central role in integration.
• Diplomatic Recognition: Hosting the WCO Secretary-General elevates Nigeria’s status in global trade diplomacy.
• Private-Sector Engagement: Encourages businesses to see Customs not as a barrier but as a partner in trade facilitation.
• Economic Transformation: Reinforces Nigeria’s ambition to leverage exports and intra-African trade as engines of growth and poverty reduction.

In essence, Adeniyi’s press briefing was more than a routine update — it was a strategic declaration of Nigeria’s intent to lead Africa’s trade future, with Customs at the center of reforms, diplomacy, and economic transformation.