The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO) under its Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme, earning international commendation for its commitment to transparency and institutional reforms.
This followed a high-level meeting at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on March 23, 2026, during an official visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who also serves as Chairperson of the WCO Council.
At the meeting, the A-CIP team briefed the Comptroller-General on progress made in its ongoing partnership with the NCS. Key discussions focused on integrity-driven capacity building, the development of standard operating procedures, and plans to conduct a comprehensive integrity risk assessment in 2026.
The team also outlined its strategic direction under Phase II of the programme (2026–2030), which prioritises embedding integrity safeguards into automated customs systems, trade facilitation processes, and revenue administration frameworks
The WCO team commended the NCS for its active participation in its integrity survey and for approving the public release of the results—moves described as strong indicators of transparency and accountability. The positive assessment reflects ongoing reforms within the Service, including improved valuation review mechanisms, enhanced post-clearance audit systems, and the implementation of the Voluntary Disclosure Framework under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
In his remarks, Adeniyi expressed appreciation to the A-CIP team, reaffirming the Service’s commitment to sustaining and expanding the partnership. Both parties emphasised that integrity remains central to building public trust and enhancing the credibility of customs operations in a rapidly evolving global trade environment.
As part of next steps, both sides agreed to publish the integrity survey results, establish and train a dedicated implementation working group, and integrate key recommendations into NCS operational processes.
In a related engagement, Adeniyi also held strategic discussions with the WCO Secretary-General, Ian Saunders, where they reviewed updates on the activities of the Policy Commission and the Council.