Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced a Strategic Refresher Course for 100 Deputy Comptrollers as part of its commitment to strengthening leadership capacity, preparing senior officers for higher responsibilities, and sustaining ongoing institutional reforms.

The workshop, organised by the Service’s Human Resources Development Department in collaboration with the Customs Police Unit, began on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada.

Declaring the programme open on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Commandant of the College, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG) Dow Gaura, described the participants as carefully selected officers being groomed for greater leadership responsibilities within the Service.

According to him, the refresher course is designed to equip the officers with the knowledge, discipline and leadership qualities required to lead by example and effectively guide the next generation of Customs personnel.

“These officers are expected to serve as role models for the next generation of Customs personnel.

“This training extends beyond professional competence; it is focused on discipline, succession planning, conduct and exemplary leadership,” Gaura stated.

Delivering the keynote lecture, retired Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Dera Nnadi, reminded participants that promotion to senior ranks comes with increased responsibility rather than personal privilege.

“The rank of Deputy Comptroller does not merely confer authority; it confers service.

“You owe responsibility to the Service, your colleagues, your subordinates, the nation’s leadership and our stakeholders,” he said.

Also speaking, the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies of the College, Comptroller Haniel Hadison, urged the officers to uphold the core values of discipline, professionalism and regimentation.

He stressed that senior officers must demonstrate exemplary conduct, maintain high professional standards in appearance, and foster positive relationships with their subordinates.

In his welcome address, the Acting Customs Provost Marshal, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Sanusi Saulawa, explained that the refresher course was specifically designed to prepare Deputy Comptrollers for the expanded responsibilities associated with senior leadership positions in the Nigeria Customs Service.

He noted that the initiative reflects the Comptroller-General’s unwavering commitment to continuous capacity development, adding that officers must continually update their knowledge, strengthen their leadership competencies, and uphold the discipline, professionalism and integrity expected of future managers of the Service.

Participants expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General for approving the training, describing it as timely, relevant and impactful.

They pledged to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the course to strengthen discipline, improve service delivery and uphold the reputation of the Nigeria Customs Service as they assume greater leadership responsibilities across the country.

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has emerged as one of Nigeria’s leading government agencies in trade facilitation following its outstanding performance in the 2025 Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Compliance Assessment conducted by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

The assessment report, released on July 3, 2026, ranked the NCS among the country’s best-performing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for fully complying with the standards prescribed under the Business Facilitation Act.

Speaking on the assessment, PEBEC Director-General, Zahrah Audu, commended the Service for meeting all compliance requirements while demonstrating significant improvements in the speed, efficiency and responsiveness of its trade-related services.

“The Nigeria Customs Service distinguished itself by meeting all the required standards while recording notable improvements in the timeliness and efficiency of its response to trade-related matters,” Audu said.

She noted that the achievement reflects the Service’s commitment to transparency, accountability and the creation of a more business-friendly trading environment.

According to Audu, the performance aligns with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda and underscores the NCS’s sustained efforts to enhance operational efficiency and improve stakeholders’ experience.

She further disclosed that 98 per cent of the 69 MDAs assessed under the Business Facilitation Act now meet the expected service delivery standards, describing the outcome as clear evidence of the positive impact of the ongoing reforms aimed at improving public service delivery across the country.

The recognition follows a series of strategic reforms implemented by the Nigeria Customs Service to modernise customs administration. These include the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme and the Advance Ruling System.

The initiatives have streamlined import and export processes, reduced cargo clearance time, strengthened transparency in customs operations and enhanced Nigeria’s trade facilitation framework, reinforcing the Service’s commitment to supporting economic growth, facilitating legitimate trade and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global trading system.

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter 

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has emphasised the need for interoperable Customs systems across Africa, describing seamless digital integration as a critical requirement for the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Customs Modernisation Project.

Adeniyi made the remarks on Wednesday, July 1st, 2026, in Lagos during the signing of a 20-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Agreement between the AfCFTA Secretariat and Bergmans Security for the commencement of the AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Digital Trade Forum 2026.

The Comptroller-General identified the lack of harmonised digital systems among African Customs administrations as one of the major impediments to the implementation of the continental free trade agreement, stressing that interoperability would significantly improve trade facilitation and cross-border commerce among member states.

“We are indeed delighted because one of the major obstacles that we have faced in this journey of implementing AfCFTA is the interoperability of our systems,” Adeniyi said.

“All Customs administrations cannot operate at the same level, but when we have interoperability, it becomes easier for us all to connect to one system and facilitate trade effectively.”

He described the selection of Bergmans Security to implement the initiative as a landmark achievement for Nigeria’s Customs modernisation programme and a strong endorsement of the country’s digital transformation efforts.

“We are delighted that it is a Nigerian company that has been given this platform to extend what they have been doing to the rest of Africa, enabling us to strengthen trade facilitation and accelerate the implementation of AfCFTA,” he added.

Earlier, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, disclosed that the Secretariat adopted Nigeria’s Customs modernisation model after observing the country’s success in deploying digital technologies that have enhanced revenue generation, operational efficiency and Customs administration.

Mene described the partnership with Bergmans Security as a major milestone towards establishing a modern and interoperable Customs ecosystem capable of supporting seamless cross-border trade across the African continent.

“Today, Nigeria is already benefiting from the deployment of these technologies,” he said.

“From our perspective, the continent has much to gain from the model introduced here in Nigeria. That is why we signed this agreement today.

“We believe our partnership with Bergmans Security will help us achieve our objective of building a continental, modern and interoperable Customs system that enables economic operators across Africa to benefit from an expanded market.”

The AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project is expected to deepen Customs cooperation among member states through harmonised digital platforms, strengthen trade facilitation, improve revenue collection, and accelerate the full implementation of the AfCFTA by creating a more efficient, integrated and competitive continental trading environment.