By Matthew Denis
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its partnership with the United States business community to promote trade facilitation, improve the ease of doing business and boost bilateral economic cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a quarterly engagement between the NCS, the US Chamber of Commerce, the US-Africa Business Centre (USAfBC) and the American Business Council (ABC), held on October 28, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters’ ICT Auditorium in Maitama, Abuja.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, said the engagement provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration, address business concerns and explore ways to expand economic cooperation between both countries.
Niagwan reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to institutional reforms, operational efficiency, digital transformation and improved stakeholder engagement.
She said the NCS was working towards establishing a modern, transparent and responsive Customs administration capable of facilitating legitimate trade while ensuring effective revenue collection, border security and compliance with relevant regulations.
“Our objective is to build a modern, transparent, and responsive Customs administration that facilitates trade while ensuring effective revenue collection, border security, and compliance with applicable rules and regulations,” she said.
According to her, sustained engagement with American businesses would enable the Service to understand emerging challenges, exchange ideas and improve the operating environment for existing and prospective investors in Nigeria.
She stressed that predictable Customs procedures, transparent tariff administration, timely cargo clearance and effective dispute resolution mechanisms were essential to improving the ease of doing business and strengthening investor confidence.
Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of the ICT/Modernisation Department, Oluyomi Adebakin, highlighted ongoing efforts to digitise Customs operations and simplify procedures for businesses.
Adebakin disclosed that the Service was automating licence and permit applications as part of broader measures to improve efficiency and reduce administrative bottlenecks.
She also announced plans to deploy 22 additional scanners across seaports, airports and border stations to strengthen cargo examination and support more efficient Customs operations.
According to her, the introduction of digital platforms and the transition towards paperless administrative processes would streamline operations, improve transparency and enhance service delivery.
She encouraged members of the business community to provide feedback on the reforms, noting that their experiences and recommendations would help the Service identify operational challenges and develop practical solutions.
In her remarks, the President of the US-Africa Business Centre at the US Chamber of Commerce, Kendra Gaither, commended the NCS for its contributions to Nigeria’s economic development, particularly through the facilitation of trade.
Gaither observed that the importance of Customs operations was often overlooked when goods moved smoothly across borders and businesses experienced minimal disruptions.
“When Customs works well, when trade is facilitated, people are the ultimate beneficiaries,” she said.
She noted that efficient Customs administration was critical to unlocking investment opportunities in strategic sectors, including agriculture, energy, critical minerals, healthcare and the digital economy.
Gaither also expressed appreciation for the continued cooperation between the NCS and American businesses, stressing the importance of sustained dialogue in resolving trade-related challenges and strengthening commercial relations.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary of the American Business Council Nigeria, Margaret Olele, commended the Service for its progress in trade facilitation, transparency and stakeholder engagement.
Olele congratulated the NCS on its emergence as a top-ranked agency in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Compliance Assessment.
She noted that improvements in the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, Advance Rulings and dispute resolution had contributed to efforts to create a more predictable business environment.
According to the council, the quarterly engagements have also provided a platform for resolving longstanding business concerns and improving communication between Customs authorities and the private sector.
The meeting underscored the importance of sustained public-private sector collaboration in addressing trade barriers, improving regulatory efficiency and creating a more competitive environment for investment.
The NCS and the American business organisations expressed their commitment to maintaining the engagement as part of broader efforts to facilitate legitimate trade, strengthen investor confidence and deepen economic relations between Nigeria and the United States.
