The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a two-week Technical Assistance Mission on Post Clearance Audit (PCA) in partnership with the World Bank Group under the Accelerated Revenue Mobilisation Reform (ARMOR) Programme, as part of efforts to strengthen compliance management, revenue assurance and trade facilitation.
The workshop, which commenced on June 1 and will run until June 12, 2026, is being held at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, Assistant Comptroller-General Babatunde Olomu described the mission as a major milestone in advancing the Service’s modernization agenda and strengthening its capacity as a technology-driven and intelligence-led customs administration.
Olomu noted that modern customs administrations increasingly depend on intelligence-led, risk-based and post-clearance interventions that encourage voluntary compliance while supporting legitimate trade and economic growth.
He said the programme would provide an opportunity to review existing processes, identify operational gaps, adopt international best practices and develop practical solutions to strengthen the Post Clearance Audit framework.
According to him, key areas of focus include risk-based targeting, case management, registry management, quality assurance, standardisation and integrated audit systems.
He emphasized that an effective Post Clearance Audit system enables Customs to move beyond transaction-based controls to a strategic compliance management approach that enhances revenue collection, promotes transparency and facilitates legitimate trade.
“This mission presents a valuable opportunity to critically assess our existing processes, identify gaps, learn from international best practices, and develop practical solutions that will strengthen our PCA framework and overall compliance management system,” he said.
Olomu also commended the Comptroller-General for his commitment to customs modernization and capacity building, while acknowledging the support of the World Bank and other development partners toward ongoing customs reforms.
Also speaking, World Bank Task Team Lead, Moses Kajubi, said the mission was designed to strengthen the capacity of Post Clearance Audit officers through modern customs practices, practical audit tools and internationally recognized methodologies.
Kajubi explained that participants would be exposed to global best practices, case management techniques and compliance strategies that could be adapted to Nigeria’s customs environment.
He stressed the importance of leveraging technology, structured case management systems and data-driven decision-making to improve audit quality, compliance monitoring and trade facilitation outcomes.
“This engagement will equip participants with practical tools and global best practices that can be applied directly in the field to improve the effectiveness of Post Clearance Audit operations,” he said.
Lead Consultant for the ARMOR Programme, Aloke Dutt, said the initiative seeks to improve trade facilitation, optimize revenue generation and strengthen compliance management through a more structured approach to Post Clearance Audit.
Dutt underscored the need for standardized audit methodologies, effective monitoring mechanisms and the integration of data analytics into audit processes to enhance accountability and operational efficiency.
He also highlighted the importance of technology-driven solutions such as the B’Odogwu platform and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to support a competency-based audit system across the Service.
During a technical session, Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Muhammad Jubril, demonstrated the Post Clearance Audit process on the B’Odogwu platform, showing how officers can initiate audit reviews using Harmonised Commodity codes and other risk indicators.
In his closing remarks, Comptroller Muhammad Shattima urged participants to take full advantage of the workshop and apply the knowledge acquired to support the strategic objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service and enhance its operational effectiveness.
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