By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and leading American business organisations have strengthened efforts to deepen bilateral economic cooperation, improve trade facilitation and boost investor confidence between Nigeria and the United States.
The commitment was reaffirmed on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, during a quarterly engagement between the NCS, the US Chamber of Commerce, the US-Africa Business Centre (USAfBC) and the American Business Council (ABC) at the NCS Headquarters’ ICT Auditorium in Maitama, Abuja.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, said the engagement would strengthen collaboration and promote economic cooperation between both countries.
Niagwan reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to institutional reforms, operational efficiency, digital transformation and improved stakeholder engagement.
“Our objective is to build a modern, transparent, and responsive Customs administration that facilitates trade while ensuring effective revenue collection, border security, and compliance with applicable rules and regulations,” she said.
She explained that the meeting provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives, address emerging business concerns and strengthen partnerships with American companies operating in Nigeria or seeking investment opportunities in the country.
According to her, predictable Customs procedures, transparent tariff administration, timely cargo clearance and effective dispute resolution mechanisms remain essential to improving the ease of doing business and strengthening investor confidence.
Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of the ICT/Modernisation Department, Oluyomi Adebakin, highlighted ongoing digital transformation initiatives designed to simplify procedures and improve operational efficiency.
Adebakin disclosed that the Service was automating licence and permit applications as part of efforts to reduce administrative bottlenecks and make Customs processes more accessible to businesses.
She also highlighted plans to deploy 22 additional scanners across seaports, airports and border stations to strengthen inspection capacity and facilitate trade.
The Customs official said the Service was transitioning towards paperless administrative processes, urging members of the business community to provide feedback on their experiences to help identify operational challenges and improve service delivery.
The initiatives, she noted, form part of broader efforts to modernise Customs operations and make trade processes more efficient and transparent.
In her remarks, the President of the US-Africa Business Centre at the US Chamber of Commerce, Kendra Gaither, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its contributions to Nigeria’s economic development.
Gaither observed that the importance of Customs operations was often overlooked when trade processes functioned smoothly, despite their direct impact on businesses and consumers.
“When Customs works well, when trade is facilitated, people are the ultimate beneficiaries,” she said.
She emphasised that efficient Customs administration was critical to expanding investment opportunities across agriculture, energy, critical minerals, healthcare and the digital economy.
Gaither also expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration between the NCS and the American business community, stressing the importance of sustained engagement in addressing trade-related concerns and creating opportunities for economic growth.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary of the American Business Council Nigeria, Margaret Olele, commended the Service for its progress in trade facilitation, transparency and stakeholder engagement.
Olele congratulated the NCS on its emergence as a top-ranked agency in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Compliance Assessment.
She highlighted improvements in the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, Advance Rulings and dispute resolution mechanisms, noting that the quarterly engagements had helped resolve longstanding challenges confronting businesses.
The discussions underscored the importance of sustained cooperation between the Nigeria Customs Service and the American business community in addressing trade barriers, improving regulatory predictability and creating a more supportive environment for investment.
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration in strengthening trade relations, improving business confidence and unlocking economic opportunities between Nigeria and the United States.
