Nigeria Customs, South-South Development Commission Seal Strategic Alliance for Regional Growth
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has pledged robust support for the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), setting the stage for a strategic partnership aimed at unlocking the region’s economic potential through collaboration in trade facilitation, border management, and infrastructure development.
Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, gave the assurance on Thursday when the newly appointed Managing Director of the Commission, Usoro Akpabio, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja.
Congratulating Akpabio on her appointment, Adeniyi observed that the 2023 Customs Act had introduced sweeping reforms requiring broad-based consultations and inclusivity.
He noted that Customs would remain open to dialogue with the Commission to ensure that the new reforms translate into shared growth and regional development.
“Given the urgency of the issues at hand, it is necessary that both institutions reconvene soon, bringing more stakeholders into the conversation. This will enable us to jointly address challenges while maximising opportunities for economic growth,” Adeniyi said.
The CGC also called for the establishment of a joint working group to act as a sounding board for partnership initiatives, stressing that the collaboration would be particularly vital in areas such as trade facilitation, economic integration, and the management of border activities within the South-South region.
Highlighting the Service’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) drive, Adeniyi recalled that Customs recently rolled out a nationwide programme focused on improving education, healthcare, and infrastructure in host communities.
He said the initiative underscores Customs’ broader commitment to inclusive growth while strengthening ties with regional stakeholders.
While congratulating the Commission on its inauguration, he emphasised that the Customs’ management, including officers serving outside the South-South region, were committed to supporting its objectives.
On her part, Akpabio lauded the ongoing reforms within the Customs Service, describing them as exemplary and transformative.
She said the Commission, though barely three weeks into its establishment, had been entrusted with a broad mandate spanning the blue economy, agriculture, human capital development, utilities, and infrastructure across the entire South-South region.
“The Customs Service plays a critical role in the South-South economic blueprint. Its presence in seaports, oil and gas operations, free trade zones, and border corridors makes it a natural ally in our quest for regional growth,” Akpabio stated.
She assured that the Commission would work towards forging a durable partnership with Customs that would not only outlast her tenure but also deliver enduring benefits to the region and the nation at large.
Both parties expressed optimism that the partnership would strengthen regional integration, promote transparency, and accelerate national development.
