By George Ozalla
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has commended British American Tobacco (BAT) for its high level of regulatory compliance and contribution to Nigeria’s economy, urging other investors to adopt a similar approach in conducting their businesses.
Adeniyi gave the commendation on Monday, September 14, 2026, during a visit to the BAT manufacturing facility in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he described the company’s operations as an example of the kind of investment capable of supporting Nigeria’s economic diversification.
The Comptroller-General said the level of compliance demonstrated by BAT was particularly notable from the perspective of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), which has responsibility for collecting customs duties and excise revenue while facilitating legitimate trade.
“As a Customs officer, I cannot but notice the high level of commitment to compliance. So I’m indeed very, very grateful. And I would say that this is one investment that Nigeria got right, and I wish we could have so many companies giving this kind of opportunity and giving back this much to Nigeria,” Adeniyi said.
He noted that BAT contributes to government revenue through multiple channels, including customs duties on imported inputs and excise duties on goods manufactured within Nigeria.
Beyond its revenue contribution, Adeniyi said the company’s operations also support employment generation and local agriculture, making its investment relevant to several areas of the Nigerian economy.
The Customs boss linked his visit to the Federal Government’s drive to develop a non-oil and export-led economy, noting that the NCS had repositioned some of its operations to facilitate exports and support businesses seeking to participate in international trade.
According to him, the Service has established a dedicated export command and terminals in and around Lagos to process export transactions.
“We have established a terminal, a command that is specifically looking after issues of exports. So that’s the only thing they do in that particular command in Lagos. We have a number of exports processing terminals in and around Lagos that are tied to that command where exports are being processed,” he said.
Adeniyi urged other investors operating in Nigeria to take lessons from BAT’s approach to regulatory compliance, integrity and its engagement with the communities where it operates.
“In terms of size, this is probably the biggest in terms of size of operation in Africa. So we invite other investors; they should take their cue from here,” he said.
He added that investors should operate within the rules and maintain high standards of compliance and integrity while also contributing to the development of the communities in which they do business.
“And as we invite them, we’re also asking them to play according to the rules, the way BAT is doing it, a company that is committed to a high level of compliance, a high level of integrity in their operations, and making a significant impact in the society where they serve,” Adeniyi said.
The Comptroller-General said adherence to regulatory requirements could produce mutual benefits for businesses and government by encouraging investment, increasing public revenue, creating employment opportunities and strengthening economic activity.
He described such an approach as a “win-win situation” in which legitimate businesses are able to operate within a predictable regulatory environment while government derives revenue and other economic benefits from productive investments.
The visit also featured a tree-planting exercise in support of BAT’s environmental sustainability initiative, after which the Comptroller-General embarked on a guided tour of the manufacturing facility.
The visit comes against the backdrop of increased emphasis by the NCS on regulatory compliance, trade facilitation and the development of Nigeria’s non-oil export sector as part of broader efforts to strengthen domestic revenue generation and economic diversification.
