by George Ozalla
The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has charged younger officers of the Nigeria Customs Service to deliberately build global competence in Post Clearance Audit, describing it as a critical pillar of modern customs administration and a key pathway for professional growth within the Service.
Adeniyi gave the charge in Abuja at the conclusion of the five day World Customs Organisation Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme held at the Customs headquarters. He said Post Clearance Audit has become one of the most important tools developed by the WCO and urged young officers to align their career aspirations with emerging global audit standards and best practices.
He noted that the engagement exposed participants to advanced audit techniques, practical tools and analytical approaches capable of strengthening operational efficiency, revenue protection and compliance monitoring. According to him, the programme provided clearer insights into modern risk management and audit practices that support trade facilitation while safeguarding national economic interests.
The Comptroller General reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to continuous reform, effective collaboration with international partners and the adoption of modern systems that align Nigeria’s customs operations with global standards.
Also speaking, WCO Trade Facilitation expert James Clark commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its openness to reform and its progress in embracing modern customs practices within a short period. He stressed that sustained institutional commitment, capacity building and consistent application of Post Clearance Audit tools were essential to achieving long term impact in trade facilitation and compliance management, expressing confidence in the Service’s ability to deepen its gains.
The WCO Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, funded by the United Kingdom’s Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, held from January 19 to 23, 2026, with focus on customs reforms, Post Clearance Audit and risk based compliance management. The programme’s conclusion marks another step in the Nigeria Customs Service’s drive to improve ease of doing business, strengthen compliance and position Nigeria as a credible trading partner in the global market.
