By Tunde Ojudun
In line with its commitment to strengthening institutional integrity and aligning with global best practices in customs administration, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has expanded its collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme.
This development followed a high-level meeting at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on 23 March 2026, during a working visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, who also serves as Chairperson of the WCO Council.
The A-CIP team briefed the Comptroller-General on ongoing initiatives, including integrity capacity-building programmes, the development of integrity-focused standard operating procedures, and plans for an integrity risk assessment exercise later in 2026. They also outlined strategic priorities under Phase II of the Programme (2026–2030), which will embed integrity safeguards into automated customs systems, trade facilitation frameworks, and revenue administration processes.
The WCO commended the NCS for its active participation in the integrity survey and for approving the release of its outcomes—a move that underscores transparency and accountability. The survey highlighted the positive impact of reforms within the Service, such as structured valuation review mechanisms, strengthened post-clearance audits, and the implementation of the Voluntary Disclosure Framework under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
In his remarks, the Comptroller-General expressed appreciation to the A-CIP team for its quality engagement and reaffirmed the Service’s resolve to sustain and deepen the partnership. Both parties agreed that institutional integrity remains a critical pillar for building public trust and enhancing the credibility of customs administrations in today’s complex global trade environment.
To consolidate progress, both sides agreed on forward-looking actions, including publishing the WCO integrity survey results, establishing and training a dedicated Implementation Working Group, and systematically integrating survey recommendations into NCS operations.
In a separate engagement, the Comptroller-General also met with WCO Secretary-General Ian Saunders and senior secretariat staff, where they exchanged updates on the work of the Policy Commission and Council.