The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and American business groups have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade relations, improving customs procedures and enhancing the business environment for investors in Nigeria.
The commitment was renewed during a quarterly engagement between the NCS and representatives of the US Chamber of Commerce, the US-Africa Business Centre (USAfBC) and the American Business Council (ABC) at the NCS Headquarters’ ICT Auditorium, Maitama, Abuja, on October 28, 2026.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, said the engagement would strengthen collaboration and economic cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
Niagwan reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to institutional reforms, operational efficiency, digital transformation and stronger 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 added that the meeting provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives, address emerging concerns and strengthen the partnership between the Service and American businesses 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 are essential to improving the ease of doing business and boosting investor confidence.
The Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, highlighted the automation of licence and permit applications as part of efforts to streamline customs operations.
He pointed to the planned deployment of 22 additional scanners across seaports, airports, and border stations, along with the introduction of digital platforms to streamline operations.
The Service also emphasised its transition towards paperless administrative processes, urging the business community to provide feedback to help identify challenges and improve service delivery.
Speaking at the engagement, the President of the US-Africa Business Centre at the US Chamber of Commerce, Kendra Gaither, commended the NCS for its contributions to Nigeria’s economic development, noting that effective customs operations often go unnoticed when trade processes run smoothly.
“When Customs works well, when trade is facilitated, people are the ultimate beneficiaries,” she said.
Gaither noted that efficient customs operations were critical to unlocking investment opportunities in agriculture, energy, critical minerals, healthcare and the digital economy. She also expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration between the NCS and the American business community.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary of the American Business Council Nigeria, Margaret Olele, commended the Service’s 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.
The Council also highlighted improvements in the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, Advance Rulings and dispute resolution, noting that the quarterly engagements had helped resolve longstanding challenges faced by businesses.
