The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is ramping up efforts to modernise its operations through a strategic partnership with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), with a strong focus on technology integration, capacity building, and cross-border knowledge exchange.
In a statement released Sunday, NCS National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, announced that a 21-member Nigerian delegation, led by Assistant Comptroller-General Oluyomi Adebakin, embarked on a high-level visit to Beijing on July 25, 2025. The delegation engaged top Chinese customs officials in a series of strategic meetings aimed at enhancing customs systems in both countries.
Discussions were held with key institutions under the GACC, including the International Cooperation Division, the Training and Education Centre, and the Shanghai Customs College. Topics ranged from port system modernisation and customs training methodologies to digital innovations designed to streamline trade between Nigeria and China.
During the engagements, Chinese officials showcased advanced training infrastructure featuring virtual reality (VR), 5G tools, and blended e-learning platforms. In 2024 alone, GACC conducted over 8,000 physical training sessions and developed 360 online courses—demonstrating the scale of China’s investment in customs capacity development.
ACG Adebakin expressed admiration for China’s innovative approach, stating, “We were impressed by the scale and innovation of China’s customs training systems. These are models we are looking to incorporate as part of our broader reform agenda in Nigeria.”
Nigeria’s Customs Service also emphasized its ongoing involvement in Chinese-led training programmes. Since 2023, more than 200 African customs officers have trained in China—including 89 from Nigeria—covering vital areas such as trade facilitation, anti-smuggling, food safety regulation, and digital port operations.
Chinese authorities lauded Nigeria’s customs reform efforts and celebrated the recent election of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council—a development seen as affirming Nigeria’s leadership in global customs administration.
The talks also explored joint technical initiatives, officer exchange programmes, and collaborative research, particularly around regional port systems and cross-border intelligence cooperation. The meeting was facilitated by the Platform Business Development Agency, whose founder coordinated the engagement to support broader customs reform and ease of doing business in Nigeria.
According to the NCS, these collaborations aim to promote knowledge sharing, harmonise customs procedures, and build integrated trade infrastructure—key components for advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Under the leadership of CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, the Nigeria Customs Service remains fully committed to strengthening human capital, advancing intergovernmental partnerships, and modernising customs operations in line with international best practices,” the statement affirmed.
The NCS reiterated that the engagement with China marks a significant step toward aligning Nigeria’s customs systems with global standards and fostering regional integration through strategic, knowledge-based partnerships.
