Customs, American Business Council Deepen Partnership to Boost Trade Facilitation
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the American Business Council (ABC) have agreed to strengthen structured engagements aimed at improving trade facilitation and enhancing investor confidence in Nigeria.
This agreement was reached on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, when the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, received a delegation of the American Business Council on a courtesy visit to the Customs House, Maitama, Abuja.
Welcoming the delegation, Adeniyi said the Service has in recent years intensified efforts to institutionalise transparency, regular stakeholder consultation and constructive engagement with industry players to align Customs operations with global best practices.
According to him, no modern Customs administration can function effectively without sustained dialogue with businesses that drive trade across ports and land borders. He noted that such engagements are critical to identifying challenges and jointly developing practical solutions.
The Comptroller-General explained that the NCS has prioritised reforms that promote predictability and efficiency for traders, citing the deployment of the One-Stop-Shop initiative across major Customs commands to streamline cargo examination, documentation and clearance processes, while reducing delays.
Read Also:
Addressing concerns raised by ABC member companies, Adeniyi assured the delegation that Customs would continue to tackle operational challenges within its statutory mandate. He, however, stressed that effective trade facilitation requires collaboration among multiple government agencies, underscoring the need for continuous dialogue to promptly resolve emerging issues.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the American Business Council, Margaret Olele, said the visit was aimed at strengthening the existing partnership between the Council and the Nigeria Customs Service. She commended Customs for what she described as noticeable improvements in port processes, communication channels and the ease of resolving trade-related enquiries.
Olele noted that several American companies operating in Nigeria have reported improved clarity and predictability in Customs procedures over the past year. She said transparency and consistency remain critical for business operations and investment decisions.
She expressed encouragement over the modernisation initiatives being implemented by the Service under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, adding that the ABC looks forward to deepening collaboration with Customs to address outstanding concerns and further improve the operating environment.
The ABC CEO also appreciated the Comptroller-General for personally receiving the delegation, describing it as a strong signal of Customs’ commitment to partnership with the private sector. According to her, stronger cooperation between Customs and businesses would significantly enhance Nigeria’s investment climate.
At the end of the meeting, both parties agreed to institutionalise quarterly engagement sessions to assess progress, address emerging challenges and sustain open communication channels for American companies operating in the country.
Representatives of major American companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Cisco and Mantrac, as well as officials from the U.S. Embassy, were in attendance at the meeting.
By PRNigeria
