By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs Administration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have entered into a joint declaration aimed at strengthening cooperation on trade facilitation, border security, capacity building, and the fight against transnational organised crime.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, in Brussels by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and the Director-General of Netherlands Customs, Mrs Nanette Van Schelven, following a series of high-level engagements between both administrations.
Both institutions said the partnership is designed to deepen collaboration in customs modernisation, intelligence sharing, compliance management, and enforcement coordination, particularly in securing international supply chains while facilitating legitimate trade. The development builds on a bilateral working visit by the Nigeria Customs Service to the Netherlands in October 2025 and a reciprocal visit by the Netherlands Customs delegation to Nigeria in March 2026.
During earlier engagements, both sides explored areas of cooperation including risk management systems, cargo clearance processes, border control operations, trade facilitation reforms, supply chain security, capacity development, and coordinated responses to illicit trade.
In the joint declaration, both administrations acknowledged Nigeria’s strategic role as one of West Africa’s major economies and a key trading partner of the Netherlands. They also emphasised that effective customs cooperation and institutional strengthening remain central to supporting legitimate trade while curbing illegal cross-border activities.
The document raised concern over increasing global threats linked to trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, counterfeit goods, wildlife products, and weapons, noting that such challenges require coordinated international action and stronger intelligence exchange.
Speaking at the signing, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the Netherlands Customs has demonstrated the value of international cooperation in addressing emerging challenges in global trade and border management. He stated that the partnership would further strengthen intelligence sharing, enhance capacity building, and improve enforcement effectiveness in securing international supply chains while facilitating legitimate trade.
He further described the agreement as a significant milestone in the Service’s international cooperation agenda and a reflection of the growing relationship between both customs administrations over the years.
In her remarks, the Director-General of Netherlands Customs, Mrs Nanette Van Schelven, said both countries face similar challenges in an increasingly interconnected global trading environment. She added that closer collaboration would promote mutual learning, strengthen operational capacity, and improve joint efforts against transnational organised crime while supporting efficient and transparent trade systems.
The declaration also establishes a framework for sustained cooperation through structured exchange of expertise, training programmes, and knowledge sharing between both agencies. It provides for the development of a joint work plan and future cooperation mechanisms aimed at improving border efficiency, promoting fair trade practices, strengthening supply chain security, and addressing challenges associated with both legal and illegal movement of goods.
