Customs, Ethiopia Deepen Partnership on Climate Action, Green Initiatives
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Ethiopian Embassy in Nigeria have explored avenues for collaboration on environmental protection, climate action and sustainable development.
The engagement took place on Friday, September 4, 2026, when a delegation from the Ethiopian Embassy visited the NCS Headquarters in Abuja as part of efforts to strengthen environmental sustainability initiatives.
Receiving the delegation, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the responsibilities of modern Customs administrations extended beyond revenue collection and anti-smuggling to include environmental protection and the preservation of endangered species.
Adeniyi said the NCS had continued to address these emerging responsibilities through strategic partnerships and initiatives designed to promote environmental sustainability.
He also commended the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA) for its practical interventions in environmental protection.
“Environmental sustainability is no longer outside the responsibilities of Customs. As a Service, we must continue to support initiatives that protect our environment and contribute to a sustainable future,” he said.
The President of COWA, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, disclosed that the association had planted 14,822 trees across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and border areas within eight months.
She said COWA would commence its 35,000-tree initiative in September, with a target of planting 1,000 trees in each state.
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According to her, the Green Border Sustainability Initiative goes beyond tree planting to promoting environmental awareness, educating communities and fostering responsible environmental practices.
“Our Green Border Sustainability Initiative is about more than planting trees; it is about creating awareness, educating our communities and building a culture of environmental responsibility,” she said.
Representing the Ethiopian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Legesse Haile, the Embassy’s Minister-Counsellor for Political Affairs, Misgna Abrha, expressed Ethiopia’s readiness to share its experience in environmental protection and climate action with Nigeria and other African countries.
Abrha highlighted Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, noting that the country had planted 48 billion seedlings over eight years.
He said initiatives such as Plant Africa could further strengthen environmental networks and encourage greater participation by African youths in climate and environmental action.
The meeting also featured discussions on the Plant Africa initiative and broader collaboration between the Ethiopian Embassy and the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
The proposed activities include tree-planting exercises at the University of Abuja and other locations within the Federal Capital Territory.
The engagement underscores growing efforts by Nigerian and Ethiopian institutions to leverage cross-border partnerships and shared experiences in tackling environmental degradation, promoting climate resilience and advancing sustainable development across Africa.
By PRNigeria
