Donatus Eleko
Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is often discussed in terms of policy, diplomacy, and economic ambition. Yet, one institution stands at the heart of its practical success. That institution is the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
As Africa pushes toward deeper economic integration, the role of Customs becomes even more critical. Without an efficient, technology-driven, and regionally aligned customs system, the promise of AfCFTA risks remaining on paper.
Since assuming office, the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has positioned himself as a pivotal figure in bridging this gap. Known for his reform-oriented leadership and strong grasp of trade facilitation dynamics, Adeniyi has shifted attention towards the urgent need to embed Nigeria Customs fully into AfCFTA’s operational structures. His push reflects an understanding that seamless border processes, harmonised standards, and coordinated enforcement are the backbone of any functional free trade area.
Adeniyi’s strategy goes beyond internal reforms as it includes building partnerships with regional customs bodies, strengthening Nigeria’s presence in AfCFTA technical committees, and advocating for a more central role for Customs in continental trade negotiations. His approach signals a departure from the old model where customs administrations were treated as mere revenue collectors rather than strategic drivers of economic competitiveness.
Under his watch, the NCS has intensified efforts to modernise its systems—expanding digitalisation, improving risk management, and emphasising intelligence-led operations. These initiatives are not only aimed at improving efficiency but also at aligning Nigeria with the standards required for full AfCFTA participation. For Adeniyi, integration into AfCFTA’s frameworks is not optional; it is a national economic imperative.
This, he reiterated during the NCS hosting of the maiden Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) Summit at the State House, Abuja, recently. At the summit, President Bola Tinubu was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The summit brought together Customs chiefs, policy experts, and private-sector players from across the continent to advance the implementation of the AfCFTA. The closing ceremony, held at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, marked the end of a series of technical sessions and high-level discussions hosted by the Comptroller-General of Customs and coordinated deliberations throughout the summit.
Nigeria’s hosting of the C-PACT Summit comes with far-reaching benefits for the country and the continent. The summit positioned Nigeria as a central hub for conversations shaping the future of African trade, customs modernisation, and cross-border cooperation.
By gathering customs chiefs, trade experts, and policy leaders from across Africa, Nigeria has strengthened its diplomatic influence and reinforced its leadership role in implementing the AfCFTA. This visibility boosts investor confidence, enhances Nigeria’s trade reputation, and showcases its readiness to drive regional economic integration.
Speaking at the event, CGC Adeniyi said the summit provided Africa with “a credible platform to move from fragmented efforts to collective solutions,” stressing that the resolutions reached would guide Customs administrations in strengthening border procedures, improving compliance systems, and reducing the longstanding non-tariff barriers that slow cross-border trade.
He noted that the C-PACT initiative, which Nigeria proposed and championed, would now serve as “a working mechanism for African Customs administrations to engage regularly, share operational experiences and harmonise processes in support of AfCFTA.”
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Comptroller-General said the one-year extension of his mandate by President Tinubu included key performance indicators directly tied to the implementation of the AfCFTA.
Adeniyi, who in July this year assumed the position of the Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, the governing body of the organisation, comprising the Heads of 186 Customs administrations, also stated that the NCS has, over the last three months, intensified its engagement with Customs administrations across Africa to ensure that Customs is properly integrated into the AfCFTA implementation structures.
He recalled recent engagements in Ghana with the AfCFTA Secretariat, emphasising that Customs must drive rules of origin enforcement, preferential duty implementation and trade preference administration, core elements that determine whether AfCFTA works in reality or remains aspirational.
The CGC stated that implementing a free trade agreement requires significant capacity building and a strong political commitment, as it involves the progressive suspension of Customs duties among member states.
He explained that past regional integration efforts, including the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, suffered setbacks because participating countries failed to implement commitments consistently, stressing that AfCFTA must avoid that pattern.
According to him, African economies are divided into regions with varying levels of readiness. Still, recent engagements have helped build consensus that Customs must sit at the centre of AfCFTA execution.
Adeniyi said his persistent advocacy for Customs inclusion at continental meetings led to the emergence of C-PACT, a framework designed to foster direct partnerships among African Customs administrations, private-sector operators, regulators and international partners.
He said Nigeria’s export volume has increased by more than 30 percent in two years, and the objective now is to redirect more of that trade into African markets where the opportunities are larger and the impact on continental growth more meaningful.
The Customs CG further commended AfreximBank, the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, commercial banks, NPA and other agencies for aligning with the Customs Service to deepen trade facilitation.
He also announced that 30 African Customs administrations participated in the summit, including 22 represented at the Director-General level, with strong participation from West, Central, East, Southern, and North Africa.
He added that for the first time, the Secretary-General of the World Customs Organisation attended a Nigeria-hosted Customs conference, signalling strong global support for Nigeria’s leadership role.
He said the conference began with private-sector sessions to understand the challenges traders face, including non-tariff barriers, cargo delays, and inconsistent implementation of trade preferences across Africa.
The President, who was represented by Shettima, charged African nations to dismantle inefficient borders, modernise their Customs systems, and commit to a unified trade architecture capable of reshaping the continent’s economic future. He said Africa’s prosperity depends on deliberate reforms that convert its large market and population into a functional economic bloc.
Shettima told delegates that Africa must replace fragmented markets with coordinated policy implementation, stressing that every country must demonstrate political will, institutional alignment and the readiness to deploy technology that simplifies trade.
He said, “The administration’s reform, exchange rate unification, fuel subsidy removal, port modernisation, and stronger Customs digitalisation, were designed to create a trade-friendly environment that could compete globally and power Nigeria’s continental ambitions.”
The VP stated that Nigeria’s National Single Window, set to go live in March 2026, would significantly reduce clearance timelines from 21 days to under seven, thereby fully aligning the country with the AfCFTA’s digital trade requirements and positioning Nigeria as a standard-setter in port automation.
Shettima urged African governments to transform commitments into measurable outcomes that traders, manufacturers, and logistics operators can feel daily, saying “Integration cannot be declared. It must be engineered.”
Representing the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Wale Edun, the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Anite, stated that customs reforms are central to Nigeria’s fiscal transformation.
She said efficient border operations reduce the cost of doing business, boost investor confidence and help Nigeria compete in regional and global markets.
Anite noted the government’s support for complete digitisation of Customs operations, improved risk management systems and harmonisation with global standards.
On her part, the Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry, Jumoke Oduwole, said the AfCFTA remains Africa’s most crucial economic instrument but warned that structural delays and outdated systems still hinder its impact.
She highlighted reforms undertaken with the Nigeria Customs Service, including tariff concession schedules and a dedicated air-cargo export corridor to East and Southern Africa.
World Customs Organisation Secretary-General Ian Saunders said Africa’s economic forecast for 2025 shows strong growth, but the continent’s ability to harness that potential depends heavily on Customs efficiency.
Recalling one of the WCO motto: “Borders divide; Customs connects,” Sanders said, the C-PACT aligns closely with WCO’s mission to support Customs administrations globally through standards, capacity building and operational guidance.
AfreximBank’s Executive Vice President for Intra-African Trade, Kanayo Awani, stated that the Bank is supporting Customs modernisation across Africa, including transit-bond guarantees, digital tracking systems, and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund to help countries offset tariff revenue losses.
She said Africa cannot realise the benefits of AfCFTA without harmonised systems and interoperable Customs operations.
AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene said that implementing the agreement’s annexes on Customs cooperation, transit, and trade facilitation requires Customs leadership at every stage.
He praised Nigeria’s leadership and the CGC’s role as Chair of the WCO Council, stating that Africa relies on Customs to translate trade rules into practical border outcomes that lower costs, reduce bureaucracy, and protect market access for African products.
Beyond prestige, the summit has opened tangible opportunities for capacity building and knowledge exchange. Nigerian customs officials and trade institutions have no doubt benefited from exposure to global best practices in border management, digital customs systems, and coordinated enforcement strategies. The presence of continental and international partners also offered Nigeria access to technical support, innovation networks, and collaborative frameworks that can accelerate reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service.
Ultimately, hosting the C-PACT Summit has helped Nigeria deepen its customs efficiency, improve trade facilitation, and unlock new pathways for economic growth.
Therefore, as Africa inches closer to fully operationalising the world’s largest free trade zone, Adeniyi’s push represents a critical step toward positioning Nigeria as a central hub for regional commerce. His efforts highlight the essential link between customs reform and continental trade ambitions, setting the stage for a deeper examination of how Nigeria can harness AfCFTA for growth, competitiveness, and long-term prosperity.
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