Customs, Fire Service, Unilever Sign MoUs to Boost Trade Security, Emergency Response
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Fire Service (FFS) and Unilever Nigeria Plc have entered into separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening collaboration on emergency response, trade security, counterfeiting and economic development.
The agreements were signed on August 27, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja as part of efforts to deepen inter-agency and public-private partnerships, protect lives and critical assets, safeguard consumers and facilitate legitimate trade.
Speaking during the engagement with the FFS, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the agreement as a strategic step towards strengthening cooperation between the two agencies.
Adeniyi said the MoU would enhance fire-safety standards across Customs facilities, facilitate rapid emergency response, promote joint training and capacity building, and improve information sharing on fire prevention and emergency preparedness.
“I am very confident that this MoU will translate to practical actions that save lives, protect government assets, and enhance our collective capacity to respond to emergencies,” the Customs chief said.
The Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Adeyemi, described the agreement as a significant milestone in the relationship between the two agencies.
Adeyemi said the FFS would deploy its capabilities to protect Customs personnel and assets, while assuring that the agreement would provide a stronger framework for coordinated emergency response.
Customs, Unilever target counterfeit trade
At a separate engagement with Unilever Nigeria Plc, Adeniyi said the partnership reflected the NCS’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with the private sector to address challenges affecting trade and industrial development.
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He said the agreement would deepen collaboration in the fight against counterfeiting and illicit trade through intelligence sharing and improved identification and verification of suspected counterfeit products.
According to him, the MoU would establish a structured channel for real-time exchange of information on trademarks, product identification features, packaging and product samples.
Adeniyi noted that engagements with private-sector stakeholders had continued to provide valuable insights capable of influencing Customs policies and operational decisions.
“Some of the takeaways we get from these engagements with the private sector influence the policies and decisions that we take,” he said.
The CGC commended Unilever for its sustained investment, innovation and contribution to employment generation in Nigeria, describing the company as an important partner in the nation’s trade and industrial development.
Unilever pledges stronger partnership
The Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, Tobi Adeniyi, highlighted the company’s long-standing operations in Nigeria, dating back to 1923.
He said more than 70 per cent of Unilever’s raw materials were now locally sourced, while the company supports approximately 15,000 direct and indirect jobs in the country.
Tobi commended the NCS for its ongoing transformation, particularly its digitalisation initiatives, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and other measures designed to facilitate legitimate trade.
He said previous engagements between Unilever and the Customs Service had already produced tangible outcomes, including the application of lessons from training involving more than 70 Customs officers.
The Unilever chief reaffirmed the company’s commitment to collaborating with the NCS to combat counterfeiting and illicit trade, while expressing readiness to expand the partnership through further engagements across the country.
The separate agreements underscore the growing emphasis on collaboration between government institutions and the private sector in strengthening emergency preparedness, protecting legitimate businesses and consumers, and creating a more secure and efficient trading environment in Nigeria.
By PRNigeria
