The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have signed a Bilateral Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters.
The agreement was signed on June 26, 2025, during the 145th/146th Sessions of the Customs Co-operation Council at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels.
The agreement establishes a formal framework for mutual administrative assistance between the two nations in customs enforcement, classification, valuation, revenue protection, and coordinated border management.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the development as a major leap in Nigeria’s strategic customs diplomacy, reaffirming the Service’s commitment to building cross-border alliances for secure and efficient trade.
The agreement provides a strong platform for operational synergy in tackling customs offences, sharing intelligence, and ensuring fair and accurate application of customs laws.
It aligns with Nigeria’s efforts to modernize customs, promote transparency, and deepen its integration into the global trade ecosystem.
Governor Suhail bin Mohammed Abanmi of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority expressed satisfaction with the bilateral engagement, describing the agreement as a reflection of shared priorities in trade facilitation and customs efficiency.
Both parties will support each other through joint efforts in investigations, data exchange, and the implementation of prohibitions and restrictions based on their respective laws.
The agreement is of indefinite duration, with provisions for mutual amendment and termination by written notice through diplomatic channels.
It draws from internationally recognized instruments, particularly the WCO Recommendation on Mutual Administrative Assistance (1953), and other relevant conventions to which both countries are signatories.
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