The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening international cooperation following a strategic engagement with China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) aimed at enhancing customs knowledge exchange and institutional capacity development.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening international cooperation following a strategic engagement with China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) aimed at enhancing customs knowledge exchange and institutional capacity development.
The high-level meeting, which took place in Beijing on July 25, 2025, brought together a 21-member Nigerian delegation led by Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Oluyomi Adebakin, Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada.
Speaking during the meeting, ACG Adebakin noted that the engagement aligns with NCS’ vision for professional excellence and operational innovation.
> “This partnership reflects our resolve to build a more agile, tech-driven, and intelligence-led customs administration. The insights gained from China’s model of training and modernisation are invaluable to our institutional growth,” he said.
The Nigerian delegation held discussions with officials from the GACC International Cooperation Division, the Training and Education Centre, and the Shanghai Customs College. Deliberations focused on training methodologies, customs digitalisation, and global best practices. The meeting also explored opportunities for future collaboration, particularly in areas of joint research, officer exchange, and capacity building.
A representative of GACC, Mr. Zhang Wei, Director of International Cooperation, highlighted China’s investment in customs education and digital infrastructure.
“We are pleased to share our model of customs training, which incorporates emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence, and 5G. Our goal is to promote international cooperation and mutual development,” he said.
According to GACC, over 8,000 physical training sessions were conducted in 2024, alongside 360 digital courses covering a range of topics from trade facilitation to anti-smuggling techniques. Nigeria’s participation in these initiatives has been significant, with 89 Nigerian customs officers benefiting from advanced training since 2023.
Zhang commended Nigeria’s recent reforms in customs governance, particularly under the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, describing his election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council as a major milestone.
“Nigeria is emerging as a leader in global customs diplomacy. The election of CGC Adeniyi as WCO Council Chair is not just a national achievement but a continental one,” he stated.
The meeting was facilitated by the Platform Business Development Agency. Speaking on behalf of the Agency, its founder, Mrs. Ngozi Okorie, emphasised the significance of such engagements in advancing trade reforms across Africa.
“We see this as part of a broader agenda to support ease of doing business, institutional innovation, and sustainable trade infrastructure under the AfCFTA framework,” she said.
Further discussions centred on Nigeria’s potential participation in upcoming Customs Modernisation Courses and officer development programmes at the Shanghai Customs College.
In his post-meeting remarks, ACG Adebakin reiterated NCS’ dedication to long-term institutional transformation.