The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the American Business Council (ABC) have stepped up efforts to deepen trade collaboration and remove persistent bottlenecks affecting business operations in Nigeria, following a high-level engagement in Abuja.
Both parties made the commitment during their quarterly stakeholder meeting held on 16 June 2026 at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, where discussions centred on trade facilitation reforms, security enhancement, and improving Nigeria’s investment climate.
The engagement comes amid ongoing reforms by the Customs Service aimed at modernising import and export processes and improving efficiency at the country’s ports.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said sustained dialogue with the private sector would now be institutionalised as part of the Service’s operational framework, underscoring the importance of stakeholder participation in reform implementation.
He said key initiatives such as the Advance Ruling system, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, Post Clearance Audit, the B’Odogwu digital platform, and improved cargo scanning processes were already reshaping Customs operations. According to him, the reforms are designed to reduce delays, improve transparency, and strengthen compliance in trade procedures.
Members of the American Business Council welcomed the reforms, but urged Customs to further strengthen rapid-response mechanisms to address lingering operational challenges affecting businesses.
President of the Council, Nneka Enwereji, described the engagement as productive, noting that it reflects improved collaboration between government and the private sector.
She said the Customs Service had “raised the bar” in its reform efforts, adding that continued engagement would be critical to sustaining progress in the ease of doing business.
The meeting forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s trade environment and enhance confidence among local and international investors.
