Two Days in the Netherlands, One New Customs Alignment
By Abdulsalam Mahmud,
There are moments in the life of an institution when diplomacy becomes more than courtesy and protocol. It becomes a quiet turning point, a bridge between one phase of its evolution and the next.
That was the mood that hovered over the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) delegation as it stepped into the crisp Rotterdam air for a two-day working visit to the Netherlands, between 29 to 31, October 2025. It was not a routine trip. It was an immersion into a system long regarded as one of the most efficient gateways of global trade.
From the first briefing room at Laan op Zuid, inside the Dutch Customs Headquarters, it was clear that this would not be a ceremonial visit. The conversations were meticulous, grounded in practice, and delivered with the kind of precision that comes from institutions that have spent decades perfecting their model.
The delegation, led by Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, settled into the first session with an attentiveness that signaled purpose. The National Tariff Classification Team, headed by Ed Tulp, took them through the engine room of tariff and origin procedures in the Netherlands.
It was a lesson in discipline and method — the kind of structured thinking that underpins any Customs system that aspires to efficiency. Then came an encounter that struck a deeper chord. Dennis van der Wolk of the Customs National Tactical Centre unfolded the Dutch approach to risk profiling and cargo monitoring, revealing the unseen architecture that allows a country to trust its ports without surrendering its borders.
It was the kind of presentation that invites sober reflection. As CGC Adeniyi remarked during the session, systematic collaboration and data-driven analysis remain the heart of modern compliance culture. His words carried the weight of a man who has spent years navigating the delicate balance between trade facilitation and enforcement.
The delegation’s next meeting, held with the Head of International Affairs, widened the scope. Here, the conversations moved beyond technical models to the larger ecosystem of digital trade processes, capacity-building exchanges, and inter-agency coordination. For Nigeria, still deepening its own reforms, it was a chance to see how institutional harmony can accelerate national goals.
If the briefing rooms offered theory, Schiphol Airport provided perspective. As officials of Schiphol Cargo walked the delegation through Europe’s bustling air freight operations, what emerged was a portrait of simplicity built on technology. Automation, pre-arrival processing, coordinated border management — all quietly working behind the scenes to clear cargo that could overwhelm a less organised system.
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It was no surprise when Deputy Comptroller-General Caroline Niagwan, who oversees the Tariff and Trade Department, described the experience as a practical reminder of how thoughtful systems can transform daily operations. Her reflections echoed the broader ambition that runs through the Service’s modernisation programme: to build processes that make efficiency a culture rather than an aspiration.
The delegation’s engagements later shifted from operational spaces to diplomatic tables. At the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director-General of International Trade, Machiel Zweers, welcomed the Nigerian team with the assurance that the Netherlands sees value in institutional partnerships built on trust and innovation. The message was straightforward — both countries have something to offer each other.
At the Ministry of Finance, the atmosphere carried a sense of consolidation. It was here that both sides reviewed the lessons of the visit and began sketching a framework for collaboration in areas such as tariff classification, risk management, trade facilitation, and gender equity. It was a moment that tied the entire visit together. CGC Adeniyi described the discussions as constructive, a platform where observation could finally translate into action.
The Port of Rotterdam offered the final movement of the visit — a guided tour of a port that remains one of Europe’s beating trade hearts. The Nigerian delegation watched the choreography of advanced cargo-tracking systems, integrated logistics, and intermodal transport. Nothing was exaggerated; nothing felt impossible. It simply showed what is possible when institutions trust each other enough to pull in the same direction.
For CGC Adeniyi, the tour was an eye-opener, a window into how synergy between Customs and port authorities can redefine national fortunes. DCG Niagwan added her own reflection — the Dutch model, she noted, is proof that data intelligence, inclusivity, and inter-agency trust are pillars of an effective Customs system.
When the visit finally drew to a close, it was evident that what happened in those rooms and terminals would not remain in Europe. It would travel home with the delegation — in their notes, in their observations, and most importantly, in their renewed sense of what the Nigeria Customs can become as it benchmarks itself against global standards.
The delegation itself reflected the depth of the Service’s commitment. Alongside the Comptroller-General and DCG Niagwan were Deputy Comptroller Etim Ibok, the CGC’s Special Assistant; Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer; Assistant Comptroller Lauretta Utubor, who leads Nigeria’s Advance Ruling System; and other key officers.
Their presence underscored the fact that institutional transformation is not a solo effort. It requires a team that understands why change matters and how to carry it forward. In the end, what stood out was not the sophistication of Dutch systems — impressive as they were — but the quiet confidence with which Nigeria stepped into each room. A confidence that said: we are learning, but we are also becoming.
And diplomacy, in this instance, was not simply a language of courtesy. It was a tool for clarity, a catalyst for growth, and a reminder that even in the intricate world of global trade, cooperation remains the most valuable currency.
Mahmud, Deputy Editor of PRNigeria, wrote in via: [email protected].
