Customs , NACCIMA Deepen Collaboration To Boost Trade Facilitation

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has reiterated the Nigeria Customs Service’s dedication to strengthening its partnership with the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

According to a statement, the collaboration aims to improve trade facilitation, enhance revenue generation, and ensure effective border management.

Adeniyi made this commitment recently, during a meeting with the newly elected NACCIMA National President, Jani Ibrahim, and his executive team at the Customs Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.

Expressing gratitude for NACCIMA’s recognition of the ongoing Customs reforms, the CGC emphasized that his administration has placed collaboration at the center of balancing revenue growth, national security, and trade facilitation efforts.

Acknowledging the importance of partnership, Adeniyi stated, “When I assumed office, I prioritized collaboration to achieve success in revenue collection, security, and trade facilitation. We are now advancing well on this front and will set up dedicated desks to assist your members with Customs-related processes.”

In response, NACCIMA President Jani Ibrahim congratulated Adeniyi on his election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation Council, calling it an affirmation of Nigeria’s leadership role in customs administration. He also applauded President Bola Tinubu’s extension of Adeniyi’s term, viewing it as a strong endorsement of ongoing reforms.

Ibrahim highlighted several key Customs initiatives, including the Authorised Economic Operator programme, the launch of indigenous digital tools branded B’odogwu, and improvements in cargo processing times through Time-Release Studies and Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports. These measures, he noted, are easing bureaucratic hurdles, reducing cargo delays, and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in international trade.

The NACCIMA President reaffirmed the private sector’s full support for Customs’ mandate and proposed the creation of a Joint Technical Facilitation Committee comprising representatives from both Customs and NACCIMA. This body would enable continuous dialogue and track collaborative progress.

He emphasized that this strengthened partnership would lower business costs and better position Nigeria to leverage opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).