The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has concluded a two-day high-level management workshop focused on accelerating trade facilitation reforms and improving the ease of doing business across Nigeria.
The workshop, organised in partnership with Reverso Business Services Limited, was held from 22 to 23 January 2026 and forms part of the Service’s broader reform agenda aimed at deepening digital modernisation and eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks within Nigeria’s trade corridors.
The engagement aligns with the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, to strengthen institutional capacity, align Customs operations with global best practices, and position the Service as a critical driver of national economic growth.
Discussions on the final day centred on emerging trends in global trade, digital transformation, and the evolving role of modern Customs administrations. Senior officers engaged in in-depth deliberations on adaptive strategies, operational efficiency, and stakeholder collaboration, underscoring the NCS’s determination to remain agile and responsive in a rapidly changing trade environment.
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Speaking at the session, Comptroller-General Adeniyi highlighted the dynamic nature of international trade and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to proactive reforms. He noted that while the operating environment would continue to evolve, Nigeria’s expectations of the Customs Service remain constant.
“Our environment will continue to be very dynamic. What will not change, however, is Nigeria’s expectation that Customs will contribute meaningfully to economic prosperity, public health and national security. When these elements come together, we are better positioned to facilitate trade,” Adeniyi said.
He further charged officers to uphold the highest professional standards, describing the ongoing reforms as a deliberate effort to transform the NCS into a reference Customs administration recognised for accountability, responsiveness, and performance.
“These are standards we voluntarily hold ourselves to. We want to be that reference organisation, responsive to our commitments and obligations and supportive of government efforts to create an environment where the economy can prosper,” he added.
Also speaking, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Reverso Business Services Limited, Ayokunnu Ojeniyi, commended the NCS for its openness to innovation and continuous improvement. He stressed the importance of embracing change and sustaining capacity-building initiatives to support effective trade facilitation.
“If you don’t take change by the hand, it will seize you by the throat. The environment is changing, and Customs must continue to manage that change proactively,” Ojeniyi said, urging participants to translate insights from the workshop into tangible improvements across their respective formations.
The workshop reinforces the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing modernisation drive, which includes process automation, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and strategic partnerships aimed at improving service delivery, boosting trade efficiency, and supporting Nigeria’s economic development.
