The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has partnered with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the United Kingdom International Development to strengthen its anti-corruption framework through corruption risk analysis, risk mapping and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The initiative formed part of a workshop held as part of efforts to identify vulnerabilities within Customs operations and develop practical measures to mitigate associated risks.
Speaking at the closing ceremony on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the exercise represented an important step towards strengthening institutional growth, integrity and corruption risk management within the Service.
Adeniyi stressed that the exercise was not intended to find fault or apportion blame, but to enable the Service to critically examine its processes, identify weaknesses and develop sustainable solutions.
He said the assessment covered critical Customs processes, including regulatory and administrative procedures, cargo clearance, inspection and examination, enforcement and compliance, procurement, as well as human resource management.
“The purpose of what we have therefore been doing with our partners was to identify such areas of vulnerabilities, assess the associated risk and develop practical measures to mitigate them,” the CGC said.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the NCS to measures that promote transparency, accountability, stronger internal controls and process simplification, while leveraging technology to reduce unnecessary discretion in Customs operations.
According to him, a transparent, predictable and accountable Customs administration would be better positioned to facilitate legitimate trade, improve compliance and strengthen public confidence.
The WCO Lead Technical Expert for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, Arman Zhalitov, commended the CGC for his continued support of the initiative and urged the working group to ensure the endorsement and implementation of the workshop’s outcomes.
He said the outcomes included a comprehensive action plan containing clear steps towards advancing trade facilitation and strengthening the anti-corruption agenda.
Also speaking, David Tanenbaum, WCO Programme Manager for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, highlighted progress recorded in areas including Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), post-clearance audit and the time-release study.
Tanenbaum noted that integrity could not be treated in isolation, stressing that the achievements recorded through the partnership demonstrated tangible institutional and operational results.
“Our work continues to bring us closer to a systematic, preventive approach to identifying and managing corruption risks within customs operations,” he said.
The initiative is expected to further strengthen preventive controls, improve operational efficiency and enhance integrity across Nigeria’s customs administration.
Comment here