The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed its commitment to trade facilitation and regulatory reforms following a high level engagement with the American Business Council (ABC) aimed at strengthening commercial relations between Nigeria and the United States.
The stakeholder meeting, held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, brought together the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, senior Customs officers, executives of American companies, and key industry stakeholders to deliberate on trade facilitation, dispute resolution, and strategies for improving Nigeria’s investment climate.
Speaking at the forum, Adeniyi described stakeholder engagement as a core pillar of modern customs administration, noting that sustained dialogue has helped address longstanding operational challenges between the Service and the private sector. He cited the recent resolution of a seven year classification dispute involving a Council member as evidence of progress achieved through constructive engagement.
He also announced the introduction of a unified dispute resolution mechanism designed to streamline procedures, reduce delays, and lower the cost of resolving trade related conflicts. According to him, the initiative forms part of broader modernization reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and creating a more business friendly environment to attract foreign investment.
In her remarks, the Executive Secretary of the American Business Council, Margaret Olele, commended the NCS for maintaining open communication with the private sector and for taking practical steps to resolve longstanding trade concerns affecting member companies.
Olele noted that while not all issues can be resolved immediately, sustained engagement has begun to yield measurable results, helping to balance national economic interests with the need for an efficient and predictable business environment.
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