Nigeria Customs Strengthens Strategic Ties with China on Customs Knowledge Exchange
In a major stride towards enhancing international cooperation and customs modernisation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has deepened its strategic engagement with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
A high-level meeting held in Beijing on 25 July 2025 brought together senior customs officials from both nations to discuss bilateral knowledge exchange, capacity building, and technological innovation in customs administration.
The Nigerian delegation, comprising 21 senior officers, was led by Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Oluyomi Adebakin, who also serves as the Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada.
The engagement involved fruitful discussions with GACC’s International Cooperation Division, its Training and Education Centre, as well as representatives from the prestigious Shanghai Customs College.
Central to the deliberations were strategies for improving customs training methodologies, integrating modernisation models, and adopting cutting-edge, technology-driven solutions in customs processes.
The Chinese authorities presented their advanced training framework, which incorporates virtual reality (VR), 5G-enabled systems, and blended e-learning platforms. Notably, in 2024 alone, the GACC conducted over 8,000 physical training sessions and produced 360 online courses aimed at upskilling customs officers globally.
The dialogue also highlighted Nigeria’s active participation in China-led customs development initiatives. Since 2023, over 200 African customs officers—89 of whom were from Nigeria—have benefited from training programmes covering trade facilitation, anti-smuggling operations, food safety regulation, and digital port systems.
Chinese Customs officials lauded recent reforms undertaken by the Nigeria Customs Service and praised the country’s growing influence on the global stage.
Special mention was made of the election of Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council—an achievement seen as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s customs diplomacy.
Both parties expressed readiness to expand collaboration through technical exchange programmes, joint research projects, and officer exchange schemes. Particular interest was shown in regional port system development and cross-border intelligence cooperation.
Looking ahead, Nigeria is expected to take part in upcoming Customs Modernisation Courses and officer development sessions at the Shanghai Customs College. The engagement was facilitated by the Platform Business Development Agency, whose founder coordinated the meeting as part of a broader agenda to promote customs sector reform, ease of doing business, and institutional strengthening.
These efforts are in line with the broader vision of harmonising customs procedures, fostering sustainable trade infrastructure, and supporting the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, continues to demonstrate unwavering commitment to enhancing human capital, fostering intergovernmental cooperation, and aligning its operations with international best practices.
