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, 28 January 2026, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), United Arab Emirates.
Organised by the WCO under the theme “Customs Agility in a Complex World: Securing and Facilitating Trade through Innovation,” the three-day conference convenes Customs administrations, technology providers, policymakers and industry leaders from across the globe to examine how innovation can strengthen border security while facilitating legitimate trade.
Nigeria’s participation underscores the Service’s ongoing trade modernisation agenda and its alignment with global best practices, particularly in digitalisation, data exchange and intelligence-led enforcement.
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Speaking during a high-level panel session, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, who also serves as Chairperson of the WCO Council, emphasised the importance of structured international collaboration in tackling emerging cross-border challenges.
According to Adeniyi, sustained engagement with international bodies such as INTERPOL, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) has enhanced cooperation in tracking criminal networks, protecting intellectual property and managing evolving trade risks.
He noted that the diversion of goods along transit corridors remains a global challenge requiring coordinated Customs-to-Customs collaboration. “Through existing WCO instruments and mutual administrative assistance frameworks, Customs administrations can more effectively investigate offences and ensure goods reach their intended destinations,” he said.
The CGC also commended innovative solutions showcased at the conference, citing a digital humanitarian corridor developed by the United Arab Emirates as a practical tool for improving the movement of relief consignments. According to him, scaling such solutions across the global Customs community could significantly enhance the efficient delivery of humanitarian goods within a fully digitalised environment.
Adeniyi further explained that while technology remains central to modern Customs operations, organisational agility extends beyond deploying systems and platforms. He stressed the need for institutions to continuously adapt to emerging risks and operational demands, noting the progress achieved by UAE Customs as a clear example of the impact of embracing innovation.
He, however, highlighted that sustainable modernisation must be supported by deliberate investment in human capital, especially as Customs administrations across WCO member states face generational transitions. Building the capacity and skills of the next generation of officers, he said, is critical to maximising technological gains and sustaining institutional effectiveness.
Also representing Nigeria at the conference, the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Team featured prominently in both technical and policy discussions. The General Manager of TMP, Ahmed Ogunsola, participated in a panel session titled “Above the Clouds: Enhancing Customs Security through Cloud Computing and Data Analytics,” which focused on leveraging cloud infrastructure and advanced analytics to improve risk management, compliance and border security.
In a separate technical presentation, TMP’s Software Development Lead, Nabil Mustapha, delivered a tech talk on the evolution of national trade systems, highlighting three core areas: secure system architectures, seamless user experience and outcomes that benefit all stakeholders in the trade ecosystem.
At the exhibition, TMP hosted a dedicated booth showcasing Nigeria’s Customs modernisation efforts, including the indigenous, custom-built B’odogwu application and other digital solutions designed to integrate stakeholders across the trade value chain and enhance operational efficiency for Customs officers.
The conference opening ceremony featured remarks by senior UAE officials, including Ali Mohammed Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, who highlighted the role of artificial intelligence, data analytics and smart monitoring systems in enabling secure and seamless trade. The Director-General of Customs and Port Security, Ahmed Abdullah bin Lahaj Al Falasi, outlined future pillars of Customs development anchored on technology, human capacity and inter-agency integration.
In his address, WCO Secretary-General Ian Saunders reaffirmed the central role of Customs administrations in global economic and social prosperity, noting that innovation remains essential for managing evolving border threats, securing supply chains and facilitating legitimate trade.
Beyond panel sessions and exhibitions, the NCS and TMP teams actively participated in the conference Hackathon, collaborating with global Customs and technology experts to develop practical, innovation-led solutions to emerging border and trade challenges. The engagement highlighted Nigeria’s growing capacity to contribute to global Customs technology development rather than solely adopt existing solutions.
The active participation of the Nigeria Customs Service and TMP Limited at the conference reflects a sustained resolve to modernise operations, strengthen international partnerships and deploy innovation in pursuit of efficient, secure and globally aligned trade facilitation.
