By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with American businesses operating in Nigeria, with a focus on eliminating trade bottlenecks, expediting cargo clearance, and enhancing bilateral economic relations.
The pledge was made during a quarterly engagement between the NCS and the American Business Council (ABC) held on June 16, 2026, at the Service Headquarters in Abuja. The meeting provided a platform for both parties to assess ongoing reforms aimed at improving trade efficiency and creating a more business-friendly environment.
Speaking at the event, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, emphasized the value of continuous engagement with the private sector and announced plans to institutionalize the forum as a regular feature of the Customs calendar.
“It is our intention that we will institutionalize this as a permanent feature of the Customs calendar because of the importance we attach to this kind of engagement,” Adeniyi said.
He highlighted progress recorded under several modernization initiatives, including the Advance Ruling system, the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, Post Clearance Audit processes, the B’Odogwu platform, and efforts to improve scanning integration and streamline cargo clearance procedures.
The meeting also enabled representatives of American businesses to present concerns regarding operational challenges and advocate for quicker resolution mechanisms to support trade and investment activities.
President of the American Business Council, Nneka Enwereji, commended the Customs leadership for implementing reforms aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business and fostering a more predictable trade environment.
“This session has been phenomenal and demonstrates your commitment to improving ease of doing business. You have raised the bar, and there is a lot that can be learned from this,” she said.
The engagement underscored the growing partnership between the Nigeria Customs Service and the organized private sector as both sides seek to expand trade opportunities and deepen economic cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
