The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has bolstered its international cooperation efforts following a strategic engagement with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) in Beijing. The high-level meeting marks a significant step in bilateral efforts to modernise customs operations and promote mutual capacity development between the two nations.
A 21-member Nigerian delegation, led by Assistant Comptroller-General Oluyomi Adebakin, Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, met with senior GACC officials to discuss training innovation, technology-driven customs procedures, and institutional collaboration. The talks involved representatives from GACC’s International Cooperation Division, its Training and Education Centre, and the Shanghai Customs College.
Central to the discussions was the exchange of modern customs training methodologies. Chinese officials shared insights into their advanced training systems, which integrate virtual reality (VR), 5G-enabled learning platforms, and blended e-learning strategies. In 2024 alone, GACC held more than 8,000 in-person training sessions and developed 360 online courses for customs personnel.
The visit also underscored Nigeria’s growing role in international customs development. Since 2023, over 200 African customs officers—89 of them Nigerian—have participated in GACC-led programmes covering trade facilitation, anti-smuggling measures, food safety controls, and smart port operations.
China’s customs authorities commended recent reforms within the NCS and acknowledged Nigeria’s increasing leadership on the global stage. Notably, they celebrated the election of Nigeria’s Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council—an appointment hailed as a milestone in Nigeria’s customs diplomacy.
Both parties expressed strong interest in advancing technical cooperation through officer exchanges, joint research on port systems, and enhanced intelligence-sharing for cross-border enforcement. Nigerian customs officers are also expected to participate in forthcoming modernisation and leadership development courses at Shanghai Customs College.
The engagement was facilitated by the Platform Business Development Agency as part of broader efforts to reform Nigeria’s customs sector, improve trade facilitation, and build institutional capacity in alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goals.
Under the leadership of CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its commitment to modernising operations, strengthening human capital, and aligning with global best practices in customs administration.
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