The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its drive for global partnerships with a high-level strategic engagement with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) in Beijing.
The meeting, held on July 25, 2025, brought together senior Nigerian customs officers and top Chinese officials to advance bilateral cooperation on customs knowledge exchange and capacity development.
The 21-member Nigerian delegation, led by Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Oluyomi Adebakin, Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, held extensive discussions with GACC’s International Cooperation Division, Training and Education Centre, and representatives of the Shanghai Customs College. The focus was on deepening collaboration in training methodologies, modernisation strategies, and technology-driven solutions, with China playing a critical role in Nigeria’s global trade network.
During the meeting, the GACC shared insights on its advanced training systems, which integrate virtual reality (VR), 5G-enabled platforms, and blended e-learning approaches. Officials revealed that in 2024 alone, China Customs conducted over 8,000 physical training sessions and developed 360 online courses. The dialogue also recognised Nigeria’s active participation in China-led customs development initiatives, with more than 200 African customs officers—including 89 from Nigeria—trained since 2023 in areas such as trade facilitation, anti-smuggling enforcement, food safety supervision, and digital port operations.
The Chinese authorities commended Nigeria for its ongoing customs reforms and lauded the election of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, describing it as a landmark achievement in customs diplomacy. Both sides expressed interest in establishing new technical exchange programmes, joint research initiatives, and officer exchange schemes to enhance regional port systems and cross-border intelligence collaboration.
The engagement also opened discussions on Nigeria’s participation in forthcoming Customs Modernisation Courses and officer development training at the Shanghai Customs College. The meeting was facilitated by the Platform Business Development Agency as part of a broader agenda to promote customs sector reforms, ease of doing business, and institutional capacity building. These efforts are aligned with the goal of harmonising customs procedures and strengthening integrated trade infrastructure across Africa to drive the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Nigeria Customs Service reiterated its commitment to modernising operations, building human capital, and expanding intergovernmental partnerships in line with international best practices.
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