By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its partnership with the United States business community to improve trade facilitation, promote investment and enhance economic cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
The commitment was reiterated during a quarterly engagement involving the NCS, the US Chamber of Commerce, the US-Africa Business Centre (USAfBC) and the American Business Council (ABC), held on October 28, 2026, at the ICT Auditorium of the NCS Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, said the engagement would further strengthen collaboration and economic cooperation between both countries.
Niagwan reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to institutional reforms, operational efficiency, digital transformation and improved stakeholder engagement.
Delivering the Comptroller-General’s message, she stated that the NCS was working towards building a modern, transparent and responsive Customs administration that facilitates trade while ensuring effective revenue collection, border security and compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
She explained that the engagement provided an opportunity for the Service and American businesses to exchange perspectives, address emerging concerns and strengthen their partnership, particularly for businesses already operating in Nigeria and those exploring investment opportunities in the country.
According to her, predictable Customs procedures, transparent tariff administration, timely cargo clearance and effective dispute resolution mechanisms remain essential to improving the ease of doing business and strengthening investor confidence.
Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, highlighted the Service’s ongoing digital transformation initiatives, including the automation of licence and permit applications.
She disclosed plans for the deployment of 22 additional scanners across the country’s seaports, airports and border stations, alongside the introduction of digital platforms to streamline Customs operations.
Adebakin also highlighted the Service’s transition towards paperless administrative processes and encouraged members of the business community to provide feedback on their experiences to enable the NCS identify operational challenges and improve service delivery.
In her remarks, the President of the US-Africa Business Centre at the US Chamber of Commerce, Kendra Gaither, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its contributions to the country’s economic development, noting that the importance of efficient Customs operations was often overlooked when trade processes functioned smoothly.
“When Customs works well, when trade is facilitated, people are the ultimate beneficiaries,” she said.
Gaither observed that effective Customs operations were critical to expanding investment opportunities in agriculture, energy, critical minerals, healthcare and the digital economy.
She also expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration between the NCS and the American business community.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary of the American Business Council Nigeria, Margaret Olele, commended the Service for its progress in trade facilitation, transparency and stakeholder engagement.
Olele congratulated the NCS on its emergence as a top-ranked agency in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Compliance Assessment.
She also acknowledged improvements in the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, Advance Rulings and dispute resolution mechanisms, noting that the quarterly engagements had helped resolve longstanding business challenges.
