Charting the Path to Customs Success in Africa By Abdulsalam Mahmud
The “4th World Customs Organization Donors Conference” for the West and Central Africa region, held on April 9, 2025, at the Headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in Abuja, was not just a meeting of minds. It was a momentous occasion for shaping the future of customs operations across the region.
In Nigeria’s capital city, African customs leaders, development partners, and technical experts gathered with a shared vision—to chart the course toward the modernization of customs processes and make them fit for the fast-evolving global trade environment.
In his opening address, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, welcomed the distinguished guests with warmth and profound respect, acknowledging the significance of hosting such an influential gathering.
He expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Nigeria’s Economy, Wale Edun, whose presence lent an air of authority to the event.
Adeniyi also highlighted the importance of the conference theme: “Partner mobilization around the priority projects of the WCO’s WCA region: a genuine pledge to meet the modernization goals and performance targets of Member Customs administrations.”
This theme, carefully chosen, underscored the collective commitment to not just modernizing customs, but doing so with the collaboration of key development partners whose support is critical to the cause.
Reflecting on the “Expert Meeting” that preceded the conference, Adeniyi was quick to acknowledge the robust conversations and insightful technical recommendations that provided a solid foundation for the deliberations that followed.
His speech turned towards a matter that resonates deeply within the region: the technical challenges faced by customs administrations. While recognizing these obstacles, he reassured his audience that they were not insurmountable.
The solutions lay within the power of collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to the cause. Across West and Central Africa, customs administrations grapple with a range of challenges that hinder effective trade facilitation and revenue collection.
Chief among these are gaps in digital infrastructure, a lack of interconnectivity between national customs systems, and insufficient capacity to implement advanced procedures such as post-clearance audits.
The challenges also extend to the complexities of implementing trade facilitation instruments like the AfCFTA Rules of Origin and the need for seamless coordination between customs and other regulatory agencies.
Furthermore, the rapid evolution of e-commerce has created new hurdles, demanding swift adaptation from customs agencies. Despite these challenges, Nigeria has made notable strides in transforming its customs landscape.
Adeniyi proudly highlighted several key initiatives that have propelled the Nigeria Customs toward a more modernized, efficient future. The B’Odogwu platform, developed indigenously, stands as a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing its digital capabilities.
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Additionally, the establishment of technical interfaces with other government agencies has paved the way for coordinated border management, while the introduction of advanced scanners at major ports has significantly improved non-intrusive inspection capabilities.
Over 5,000 officers have been trained in specialized areas, further boosting the service’s capacity to meet the demands of the modern trade environment.
The impact of these interventions has been nothing short of transformative: reduced clearance times, a 90% increase in revenue collection—surpassing targets by 20%—and a notable improvement in compliance rates.
These successes not only demonstrate the effectiveness of targeted modernization efforts but also serve as a model for other countries in the region.
Building on these achievements, Adeniyi highlighted five priority initiatives that warrant the region’s attention and support: the Regional Interconnectivity Project, a Competency-Based Human Resource Management System, Technology-Driven Illicit Trade Detection, AfCFTA Implementation Support, and the Regional Single Window Integration.
These initiatives, he emphasized, are designed to address the pressing needs identified through comprehensive assessments, ensuring that they will have a lasting, positive impact on customs operations across the region.
Each initiative, according to Adeniyi, comes with a detailed business case, including implementation timelines, resource requirements, and performance indicators.
The Nigeria Customs has already embarked on pilot implementations of several initiatives, demonstrating their feasibility and commitment to progress. These projects, Adeniyi assured, would not only deliver significant improvements but also set the stage for a new era of regional cooperation.
Furthermore, Nigeria stands ready to take on a leadership role in capacity building, with the Adeniyi-led Customs Service offering its state-of-the-art WCO-recognized training facility in Abuja as a regional hub.
This facility, already equipped with tailored technical training modules, will play a pivotal role in equipping customs officers across West and Central Africa with the skills needed to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.
Adeniyi also underscored the importance of coordination in ensuring the success of donor-funded programs. To prevent duplication and maximize outcomes, the Nigeria Customs has put in place a framework for tracking progress, ensuring that all programs are evaluated independently for effectiveness.
In his parting shot, Adeniyi reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to leading by example, advancing customs best practices, and continuously striving for technical excellence.
As the conference came to a close, the resounding message was clear: the path to customs success in Africa lies not just in tackling the challenges but in the collective will to overcome them.
The steps outlined during the discussions, from digital transformation to regional cooperation, are not just aspirations but a strategic blueprint for reshaping Africa’s customs landscape.
It is a vision in which every nation plays a role, and every partnership strengthens the foundation. The future is one of seamless integration, enhanced capacities, and a flourishing trade environment.
Charting this path to success, as we’ve seen, requires more than just ambition; it demands commitment, innovation, and collaboration. The qualities that will propel African customs into a new era of efficiency and prosperity.
*Mahmud, Deputy Editor of PRNigeria, can be reached at: [email protected].*
