Special Report
by George Ozalla
Abuja became the center of continental trade collaboration as the Nigeria Customs Service concluded its inaugural Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) Summit on 19 November 2025. The three-day summit, held at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, convened over 150 delegates, including Customs chiefs from 28 African countries, trade policy experts, private-sector operators, and regional stakeholders, to advance the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and address persistent non-tariff barriers that have long slowed intra-African commerce. The summit featured seven technical sessions, four plenary panels, and two specialized private-sector workshops designed to translate high-level discussions into actionable frameworks, and adopted 12 resolutions focused on harmonizing transit regimes, rules of origin, digital documentation, gender inclusion, risk management, and coordinated border management.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who hosted the summit, described it as “a credible platform to move from fragmented efforts to collective solutions,” stressing that the outcomes would guide Customs administrations in strengthening border procedures, improving compliance systems, and removing trade bottlenecks. He highlighted that the C-PACT initiative, championed by Nigeria, will now serve as a permanent mechanism for African Customs administrations to engage regularly, share operational experiences, and align procedures in support of AfCFTA.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, earlier representing President Bola Tinubu, urged African countries to dismantle structural barriers to trade and adopt a continent-wide framework that supports competitiveness, industrial growth, and stable cross-border commerce. He noted that AfCFTA’s success depends on collective commitment to harmonized policies, modern trade infrastructure, and cooperation between Customs authorities and economic operators.
The Secretary-General of the World Customs Organisation, Ian Saunders, reminded delegates that Customs authorities remain central to AfCFTA because they “connect borders, enforce standards, and determine the practical realities of trade,” while Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), emphasized that without modernized and interoperable Customs systems, the economic benefits of AfCFTA would remain largely out of reach.
During the summit, participants engaged extensively on rules of origin, transit regimes, risk management, digital documentation, gender inclusion, and coordinated border management. Delegates expressed satisfaction with the depth of discussions and collectively agreed to continue C-PACT as a technical platform for reviewing progress, aligning national systems with emerging continental standards, and institutionalizing operational best practices. Private-sector actors contributed actively, with 45 freight and logistics companies, 30 port operators, 25 manufacturers, and 20 exporters participating in specialized sessions to highlight operational challenges, including procedural delays, inconsistent documentation, and bureaucratic hurdles that continue to discourage intra-African trade. Emenike Kingsley, National President of the Association of Licensed Customs Agents, described the summit as “the first opportunity in years for Customs managers and economic operators to jointly examine operational constraints,” underscoring the importance of sustained collaboration.
The successful execution of C-PACT clearly reflects the transformational leadership of CGC Adeniyi. Since assuming office, he has modernized the Nigeria Customs Service into a technology-driven, performance-oriented agency. Under his leadership, the Service collected ₦6.1 trillion in 2024, surpassing its target by over 20 percent, through streamlined processes, digital modernization, and data-driven enforcement. Adeniyi also oversaw the deployment of the B’Odogwu customs clearance platform and the launch of the Authorized Economic Operators programme, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and compliance for trusted traders.
His tenure has continued to flow with significant legal and institutional reforms, including the Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023, which provides a modern framework empowering the NCS to facilitate trade while enforcing regulatory standards. Border security and enforcement have been strengthened through intelligence-led operations, resulting in over 3,800 seizures of illicit goods, arms, and contraband across land, sea, and air borders. Adeniyi has fostered strategic partnerships with federal agencies, private operators, and host communities, reinforcing operational effectiveness. Beyond operational successes, he has championed corporate social responsibility through Customs Cares, delivering education, medical support, and infrastructure assistance to over 10,000 beneficiaries across underserved communities. Presidential confidence in his leadership was reinforced by the one-year extension of his tenure in August 2025 to consolidate reforms, oversee the National Single Window Project, and advance Nigeria’s AfCFTA commitments. His integrity and results-driven approach earned him national recognition, including the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
As the C-PACT Summit concluded, the weeklong engagements left a lasting imprint on African customs cooperation. By establishing a permanent technical mechanism under C-PACT, the summit created a platform for regular continental dialogue, harmonization of border procedures, and sharing of operational experiences. With Adeniyi at the helm, the Nigeria Customs Service is rejigged to continue to demonstrate efficiency, transparency, and innovation, setting a benchmark for other African nations as they collectively pursue the economic promise of AfCFTA and a more integrated African trade landscape.
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, NEWSCOUNT.
