The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reiterated its commitment to international cooperation by strengthening its partnership with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) to enhance trade facilitation and border management.
The collaboration was reinforced following an official visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to the RMCD Headquarters on the sidelines of his participation in DSA Malaysia 2026.
CGC Adeniyi was received by the Director-General of the RMCD, Dato’ Haji Amran Bin Haji Ahmad, who was appointed in March 2026. Both leaders held high-level discussions focused on institutional collaboration, customs modernisation, and coordinated border management frameworks to strengthen efficiency and regulatory integrity.
The National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Dr. Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, noting that the engagement comes against the backdrop of expanding bilateral trade, with Nigeria’s imports from Malaysia increasing from ₦159.9 billion in 2020 to ₦716.0 billion in 2024, and cumulative trade value reaching approximately ₦1.82 trillion over a five-year period.
Adeniyi emphasised that the scale and trajectory of Nigeria-Malaysia trade relations necessitate a more structured and formalised customs-to-customs partnership.
He stated that Malaysia remains a significant trading partner of Nigeria, with key imports including crude palm oil, refined palm olein, jet fuel, food preparations, machinery, and other industrial inputs.
The CGC further highlighted the critical role of customs administrations in facilitating legitimate trade while safeguarding national economic and security interests.
Both administrations acknowledged the absence of a formal legal framework guiding bilateral customs cooperation despite longstanding trade relations. To address this gap, both parties agreed to initiate processes toward establishing a Mutual Recognition Agreement under the framework of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), to be pursued through appropriate diplomatic channels. This initiative is expected to provide a structured basis for cooperation, enhance mutual trust, and support reciprocal trade facilitation measures.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for the Royal Malaysian Customs Department to present its evolving border management architecture, including the establishment of the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) as an integrated frontline border control body.
In response, Adeniyi highlighted the Nigeria Customs Service’s Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and other trade facilitation frameworks designed to ensure predictable clearance processes, reduce transaction costs, and strengthen compliance. Both sides emphasised the importance of deeper collaboration in intelligence sharing, enforcement coordination, and technology-driven border management, particularly in addressing illicit trade and transnational trafficking.
Consequently, the NCS reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnerships as part of its broader modernisation agenda. The Service also affirmed that the outcomes from this engagement will enhance operational capacity, improve trade facilitation, and reinforce border security while supporting Nigeria’s economic growth objectives.
Similarly, the Customs boss used the opportunity to visit the Nigerian Diplomatic Mission and Defence Office in Malaysia, commending their roles in advancing Nigeria’s interests and supporting its nationals abroad.
