The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to technology-driven border management and international cooperation as the 2026 World Customs Organisation (WCO) Technology Conference and Exhibition commenced on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The conference, organised by the WCO under the theme, “Customs Agility in a Complex World: Securing and Facilitating Trade through Innovation,” brings together Customs administrations, technology providers, policymakers and industry leaders from across the globe.
Nigeria’s participation underscores the Service’s ongoing trade modernisation drive and its alignment with global best practices, particularly in data exchange, digitalisation and intelligence-led enforcement.
Speaking during a panel session titled “Customs Agility in a Complex World: Securing and Facilitating Trade through Innovation,” the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, who is also Chairperson of the WCO Council, emphasised the importance of structured international collaboration.
“Our experience has shown that robust engagement with international organisations such as INTERPOL, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Universal Postal Union creates opportunities for deeper cooperation, especially in tracking criminal networks, protecting intellectual property and managing emerging trade risks,” Adeniyi said.
He added: “Diversion of goods in transit is not a challenge unique to Nigeria; it is a global issue that requires coordinated Customs-to-Customs cooperation. Through existing WCO instruments and mutual administrative assistance frameworks, Customs administrations can more effectively investigate offences and ensure that goods reach their intended destinations.”
Adeniyi also commended innovative solutions showcased at the conference, citing the UAE’s digital humanitarian corridor.
“I saw a tool today developed by the UAE that creates a digital humanitarian corridor. If scaled across the global Customs community, it can significantly enhance our ability to move humanitarian goods efficiently within a fully digitalised environment,” he said.
He further noted that organisational agility goes beyond deploying systems, stressing that Customs administrations must absorb change, respond to risks and adapt operations.
“Technology has been central to the work of the WCO and Customs administrations worldwide, and the progress recorded by UAE Customs across various operational areas demonstrates what is achievable when innovation is fully embraced,” he stated.
The CGC, however, stressed that sustainable modernisation must be supported by investment in human capital, noting the generational transition within Customs services globally.
Meanwhile, the General Manager of the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), Ahmed Ogunsola, participated in a panel session on cloud computing and data analytics, while TMP’s software lead, Nabil Mustapha, spoke on secure architectures and user experience.
TMP also showcased its B’odogwu application and other digital solutions at the exhibition.
The opening ceremony featured remarks by senior UAE officials, including Ali Mohammed Al Shamsi and Ahmed Abdullah bin Lahaj Al Falasi.
WCO Secretary-General, Ian Saunders, said innovation remains critical to managing border threats and securing supply chains.
The three-day conference features panel discussions, case studies and live demonstrations on risk management, cybersecurity and e-commerce.
NCS and TMP’s participation, including involvement in the Hackathon, reflects Nigeria’s resolve to modernise operations and contribute to global Customs technology solutions.