Ayomide Otitoju
Fidelity Bank has received national recognition for its role in advancing the digital transformation of Nigeria’s trade system, earning a top honour at the 2025 Comptroller General of Customs Award Night.
The award ceremony, held on 21 November at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, saw the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) commend Fidelity Bank as the first financial institution to successfully process Customs Duty and the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) on the newly deployed Unified Customs Management System (UCMS). The commendation, presented under the leadership of Comptroller General Bashir Adeniyi (MFR), acknowledged the bank’s “Distinctive Performance and Commitment to the Ideals and Vision of the Nigeria Customs Service.”
Speaking after receiving the award on behalf of the bank, Executive Director for FCT & North, Mr. Sufiyanu Garba, described the recognition as a validation of the institution’s commitment to operational excellence and digital innovation. He noted that Fidelity Bank remains dedicated to supporting the modernization of Nigeria’s customs and trade processes.
The bank’s swift deployment of the UCMS aligns with its broader ambition to strengthen seamless intra-African trade. Earlier in 2025, Fidelity Bank rolled out the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) following its successful onboarding and more than ₦46 billion in early transactions. PAPSS enables real-time cross-border payments in local currencies, reducing trade barriers and offering significant benefits to SMEs across the continent.
The NCS recognition adds to Fidelity Bank’s series of major achievements in 2025. This includes its double win as “Best Bank for Export & Trade Finance” and “Most Innovative Bank of the Year” at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards. Together, these accolades highlight the bank’s expanding influence in trade facilitation, innovation, and national economic development.
Fidelity Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading commercial lenders, serves over 9.1 million customers through its digital platforms, 255 business offices nationwide, and its UK subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited. The bank has earned multiple domestic and international awards for digital transformation, SME banking, mobile innovation, and excellence in investment banking services.
The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
