The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing intra-African trade by strengthening its partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to enhance trade facilitation, deepen customs cooperation, and accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The commitment was reiterated during a working visit by the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Dr George Elombi, to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, July 3, 2026.
The meeting reviewed the progress made in the collaboration between both institutions and explored new areas of cooperation aimed at promoting seamless cross-border trade and driving regional economic integration.
Speaking during the meeting, CGC Adeniyi described the partnership as one anchored on a shared vision of unlocking Africa’s economic potential through stronger trade among African nations.
He said the collaboration had continued to deliver concrete results in customs modernisation and trade facilitation through initiatives focused on harmonising customs procedures and improving the movement of goods across the continent.
“We are building a partnership between the two sides, a partnership founded on a single conviction: that Africa’s best trading partners are within Africa itself, and our prosperity will be built on the trade we conduct within ourselves.
From C-PACT to our ongoing work on trade facilitation, we are turning that conviction into practical cooperation,” Adeniyi stated.
He further disclosed that the partnership would support Afreximbank’s regional transit initiatives, accelerate the development of one-stop border posts along strategic trade corridors, and promote the adoption of global best practices in customs administration.
According to him, the Service is already recording positive outcomes from the Bank’s support for regional transit systems and remains optimistic that the collaboration will further enhance Africa’s competitiveness and expand opportunities for legitimate trade.
In his remarks, Dr. Elombi commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its proactive leadership, describing the CGC’s approach as a clear demonstration of institutional commitment to transforming trade across Africa.
“It is nice to see the CGC taking the initiative to drive this kind of engagement, which demonstrates a clear commitment to transforming trade across the continent.
We have the resources, and you have the will. Together, we can make this partnership work for Africa,” he said.
The Afreximbank President also reaffirmed the Bank’s readiness to expand its support for initiatives that facilitate trade and strengthen the implementation of the AfCFTA.
The meeting equally reviewed the successful maiden edition of the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT), held in Abuja in November 2025.
The initiative brought together customs administrations, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise customs procedures, strengthen institutional capacity, and improve connectivity across Africa’s trading systems.
One Comment