Nigeria, UK Customs Deepen Ties to Enhance Trade, Border Efficiency
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the United Kingdom’s His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have reinforced their strategic partnership aimed at enhancing trade facilitation and advancing digital border management between both countries.
The development followed a high-level bilateral meeting held in London on March 18, 2026, under the Nigeria–United Kingdom Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP). The engagement took place on the sidelines of the state visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Kingdom.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, alongside Ms Megan Shaw, Head of International Customs and Border Engagement at HMRC, led discussions focused on customs modernisation, improving transparency in bilateral trade data, and strengthening operational collaboration between both institutions.
Speaking during the meeting, Adeniyi underscored the importance of robust customs cooperation as a driver of economic growth and sustainable trade. He noted that Nigeria and the United Kingdom maintain a longstanding economic relationship spanning key sectors such as industrial goods, agriculture, energy, and consumer products. According to him, customs authorities play a critical role in ensuring that trade flows remain secure, transparent, and mutually beneficial.
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Both parties also acknowledged discrepancies in bilateral trade statistics, describing them as a structural challenge requiring coordinated intervention. Data presented during the meeting showed that while Nigeria recorded imports of approximately £504 million worth of UK-origin goods in 2024, the United Kingdom reported exports to Nigeria valued at about £1.7 billion within the same period.
To address the gap, the two administrations agreed to explore the establishment of a structured pre-arrival data exchange system linking their digital customs platforms. The initiative is expected to enhance risk management, improve data reconciliation, and strengthen compliance monitoring.
The meeting further provided a platform for both sides to showcase ongoing customs modernisation efforts. HMRC highlighted its deployment of artificial intelligence-driven trade tools, digital verification systems, and real-time analytics, while both parties emphasised the need for closer collaboration in technology adoption and digital border management.
Key outcomes of the engagement include plans to develop a Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Framework, initiate technical scoping for capacity building and knowledge exchange, and establish a joint technical engagement mechanism under the ETIP framework.
The NCS reiterated its commitment to strengthening international partnerships as part of its broader reform agenda aimed at improving transparency, operational efficiency, and competitiveness in Nigeria’s trade environment. It added that outcomes from the engagement would enhance its capacity to facilitate trade and support the country’s ongoing economic reform initiatives.
By PRNigeria
