The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened trade relations between Nigeria and the United States following a high-level stakeholder engagement with the American Business Council (ABC).
The meeting, held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos, brought together senior Customs officials, executives of American companies operating in Nigeria, and key industry stakeholders to deliberate on trade facilitation, regulatory reforms, dispute resolution and strategies to improve Nigeria’s investment climate.
Leading the Customs delegation was the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who described stakeholder engagement as a cornerstone of modern customs administration.
He noted that sustained dialogue between the Service and the private sector has helped resolve longstanding operational challenges.
Adeniyi cited the recent resolution of a seven-year tariff classification dispute involving a member company of the Council as evidence of the progress achieved through continuous engagement.
“Stakeholder engagement is one of the major pillars of any modern Customs administration. When issues are addressed in a mutually beneficial manner, everybody becomes a winner,” he said.
The Customs chief also announced the introduction of a unified dispute resolution mechanism aimed at streamlining procedures, reducing delays and lowering the cost of resolving trade-related conflicts.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to transparency, ongoing modernisation reforms and the creation of a business-friendly environment capable of attracting foreign investment.
According to him, the engagement forms part of the NCS’s broader strategy to deepen partnerships with international business communities while enhancing trade facilitation and economic growth.
In her remarks, the Executive Secretary of the American Business Council, Margaret Olele, commended the Customs Service for sustaining open communication with the private sector and taking concrete steps to address longstanding trade concerns.
“We are seeing positive outcomes from these engagements, including the resolution of long-standing issues affecting our members. While not every concern can be resolved immediately, sustained dialogue helps balance national interests with the need for an efficient business environment,” Olele said.
The engagement underscores ongoing efforts by the Nigeria Customs Service to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and enhance investor confidence in Nigeria’s trade and investment ecosystem.
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