NCS Deepens Trade Facilitation Reforms, Eyes Digital-First Customs Administration
Kathy Kyari
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to trade facilitation reforms and digital transformation with the conclusion of a two-day management workshop designed to reposition the Service for efficiency, accountability and global competitiveness.
The high-level workshop, organised in partnership with Reverso Business Services Limited, was held from January 22 to 23, 2026, and focused on accelerating reforms aimed at easing the cost and complexity of doing business across Nigeria’s trade corridors.
The engagement forms part of the ongoing reform agenda of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, which seeks to strengthen institutional capacity, eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and align Customs operations with international best practices in trade administration.
Participants at the workshop examined emerging trends in global trade, the growing role of technology in Customs operations, and the need for adaptive strategies to respond to a rapidly evolving trade environment. Senior officers also engaged in discussions on operational efficiency and improved collaboration with stakeholders in both the public and private sectors.
Speaking during the session, Adeniyi highlighted the dynamic nature of international trade and stressed that the Service is implementing proactive reforms to meet both present and future demands.
“Our environment will continue to be very dynamic. What will not change, however, is Nigeria’s expectation that Customs will contribute meaningfully to economic prosperity, public health and national security. When these elements come together, we are better positioned to facilitate trade,” he said.
The Comptroller-General further challenged officers to uphold high professional standards, describing the transformation of the Service as a conscious effort to build a reference Customs administration defined by performance, responsiveness and accountability.
“These are standards we voluntarily hold ourselves to. We want to be that reference organisation, responsive to our commitments and obligations and supportive of government efforts to create an environment where the economy can prosper,” Adeniyi added.
Also speaking, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Reverso Business Services Limited, Ayokunnu Ojeniyi, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for embracing innovation and institutional reform. He emphasised the importance of sustained capacity building to effectively manage change in the global trade landscape.
“If you don’t take change by the hand, it will seize you by the throat. The environment is changing, and Customs must continue to manage that change proactively,” Ojeniyi said, urging participants to apply lessons from the workshop to drive practical improvements in their respective commands.
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