The Sea and Empowerment Research Center (SEREC) has lauded the Comptroller General of Customs , Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for his progressive strides in addressing long standing challenges posed by cartels and smuggling in Nigeria’s international trade and shiping space.
In SEREC’s latest Weekly Bulletin released on July 14, 2025, signed by the Head of Research , Fwdr Eugene Nweke , the center praised the CGC’s policy thrusts, which is based on trade facilitation, revenue optimisation, digital transformation, and stakeholder engagement, describing them as promising and transformative.
He said that smuggling and cartel operations have long plagued Nigeria’s trade corridors, sustained by deeply rooted insider trading networks and the manipulation of regulatory gaps within ministries and agencies. Bonded terminals in particular have become soft targets, frequently exploited as trafficking conduits by sophisticated criminal networks.
The bulletin draws attention to a number of recent high profile seizures of contraband and illicit cargo by the NCS and underscores the scale and persistence of the problem but said the tide may be turning under Adeniyi’s leadership, as the service has taken a notably hard stance against these entrenched criminal structures, leveraging technology and a data-driven approach to tighten control and oversight across the trade and shipping ecosystem.
He pointed out that digital transformation and port automation have become cornerstones of the administration’s anti-smuggling strategy by minimizing human intervention and streamlining manual procedures . These reforms are closing the loopholes traditionally exploited by cartels.
The SEREC bulletin highlighted how the digital shift has begun to yield dividends by boosting transparency, operational efficiency, and overall accountability . While stressing that cargo movement tracking and data integration have improved monitoring capabilities, helping to deter illicit activities , these changes have also fostered a more business friendly environment through streamlined customs procedures, reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and creating fewer opportunities for corrupt practices to thrive.
Nweke also said that significantly, the CGC’s approach to stakeholder engagement is noted as a key factor in the fight against smuggling and by building stronger collaboration between customs officials and stakeholders across the supply chain, vulnerabilities can be identified and addressed more proactively as this consultative model of administration has helped restore confidence and trust within the trading community.
SEREC , strongly supports the continued implementation and expansion of these reforms. The organisation called for sustained investment in digital infrastructure, stronger collaboration with other regulatory agencies, and ongoing policy reviews to ensure the Customs Service remains one step ahead of evolving threats.
They reaffirmed their commitment to working alongside the CGC’s administration to promote a secure, transparent, and efficient trade environment in Nigeria while emphasising that responsible partnerships and shared vigilance are crucial to dismantling the influence of cartels and ending the cycle of smuggling that has hampered economic growth for decades.
One Comment