By Anthony Nwachukwu
Senior officials the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) have strengthened cooperation on knowledge exchange and capacity development in customs administration.
The 21-member Nigerian delegation, led by the Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, ACG Oluyomi Adebakin, held a strategic engagement with officials from the GACC International Cooperation Division, the Training and Education Centre, and representatives of the Shanghai Customs College.
The NCS National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed that the engagement focused on deepening cooperation in customs training methodologies, modernisation models and technology-driven solutions, especially as China plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s international trade network.
He disclosed that the Chinese Customs authorities shared their structured training system, incorporating virtual reality, 5G-enabled systems, and blended e-learning approaches, adding that in 2024 alone, GACC conducted over 8,000 physical training sessions and developed 360 online courses.
“Discussions also highlighted Nigeria’s active participation in China-led customs development initiatives, with over 200 African customs officers, including 89 from Nigeria, having received training since 2023 across various areas such as trade facilitation, anti-smuggling enforcement, food safety supervision, and digital port operations,” the statement read.
On their part, the Chinese Customs acknowledged recent reforms within the NCS and commended Nigeria’s growing leadership in international customs platforms. They noted particularly the recent election of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation Council, which they described as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s customs diplomacy.
“Both parties expressed mutual interest in exploring technical exchange programmes, joint research initiatives, and officer exchange schemes focused on regional port systems and cross-border intelligence cooperation,” Maiwada stated.
The engagement also signalled new areas of collaboration, including Nigeria’s participation in upcoming Customs modernisation courses and officer development training at the Shanghai Customs College, Maiwada said. He noted that the meeting was facilitated by the Platform Business Development Agency as part of a broader agenda to drive customs sector reform, ease of doing business, and institutional capacity building.
“This aligns with the broader objectives of promoting knowledge sharing, harmonising customs procedures, and building an integrated trade infrastructure for sustainable development as a cornerstone for the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he further explained.
