By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its partnership with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) under the Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme, earning international commendation for its commitment to transparency and institutional reforms.
This development followed a high-level meeting held on March 23, 2026, at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, during a working visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who also chairs the WCO Council.
During the engagement, the A-CIP team briefed the Comptroller-General on ongoing collaboration with the NCS, focusing on integrity capacity-building initiatives, development of integrity-based standard operating procedures, and plans for an integrity risk assessment exercise scheduled for 2026.
The team also outlined its strategic priorities for Phase II of the programme covering 2026 to 2030, which will emphasise embedding integrity safeguards in automated customs systems, trade facilitation frameworks, and revenue administration processes.
In its assessment, the A-CIP team commended the NCS for actively participating in the WCO integrity survey and approving the release of its outcomes, describing the move as a strong demonstration of transparency and accountability.
According to the report, the positive survey results reflect the impact of ongoing reforms within the Service, including improved valuation review mechanisms, enhanced post-clearance audit processes, and the implementation of the Voluntary Disclosure Framework under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
Speaking at the meeting, Adeniyi expressed appreciation to the A-CIP team for its continued support and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to sustaining and expanding the partnership.
Both parties agreed that institutional integrity remains essential for building public trust and strengthening the credibility of customs administrations, particularly in an increasingly complex global trade environment.
To consolidate progress, the NCS and WCO agreed on key forward-looking actions, including the publication of the integrity survey results, establishment and training of a dedicated implementation working group, and integration of survey recommendations into customs operations.
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In a related development, the Comptroller-General also held a strategic meeting with WCO Secretary-General Ian Saunders and senior officials of the organisation, where discussions focused on updates from the Policy Commission and Council.
