Nigeria, Belarus Strengthen Ties with Bilateral Customs Cooperation Agreement
…CGC Adeniyi Describes Pact as Strategic Leap in Global Customs Diplomacy
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in a move to bolster international collaboration and enhance border enforcement, has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters with the Republic of Belarus.
The bilateral agreement was formally signed on Friday, 27th June 2025, at a side event during the 145th/146th Sessions of the Customs Co-operation Council at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Mr. Vladimir Orlovsky, Chairman of the State Customs Committee, represented the Government of Belarus.
Speaking shortly after the signing ceremony, CGC Adeniyi described the MoU as a strategic instrument to advance the NCS’s global customs diplomacy agenda and reform initiatives.
He highlighted key areas of collaboration including intelligence exchange, joint enforcement operations, and capacity development.
“We are forging a new chapter in international cooperation, one rooted in mutual trust, operational efficiency, and proactive intelligence,” Adeniyi remarked. “This partnership with Belarus strengthens our ability to combat transnational threats, facilitate secure trade, and modernise procedures in line with global best practices.”
The agreement provides a robust legal framework for mutual administrative assistance in critical areas such as revenue protection, correct classification and valuation of goods, enforcement of prohibitions and restrictions, and joint operations to combat smuggling and customs fraud.
It also aligns with globally recognised frameworks and conventions, including the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the 1953 WCO Recommendation on Mutual Administrative Assistance.
According to CGC Adeniyi, the signing signals a deliberate shift towards an intelligence-driven model of enforcement. “This development reflects our strategic vision to position Nigeria as a hub of innovative and compliant customs operations in Africa,” he said.
“Beyond enforcement, this is a framework for learning, innovation, and solidarity among customs administrations. Nigeria is proud to stand alongside Belarus in advancing collaborative customs solutions that protect our borders and promote legitimate commerce,” he added.
On his part, Chairman Vladimir Orlovsky applauded the NCS for its openness to international partnerships and expressed optimism about the future of the cooperation.
“This MoU establishes the foundation for strategic engagement between our administrations,” he said. “Our shared values in safeguarding trade and combating illicit activity will be the bedrock of this relationship. We look forward to fruitful exchanges and the joint implementation of meaningful initiatives.”
Under the agreement, both countries will collaborate in areas such as real-time intelligence sharing, training, joint investigations, and the application of control procedures in compliance with their respective national laws.
This latest development adds to the growing portfolio of bilateral and multilateral engagements the NCS has pursued under CGC Adeniyi’s leadership, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to global customs integration and effective border governance.
