– Strengthen regional integration
Esther Oritse
Lagos — The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in the fight against illicit trade, while promoting seamless trade facilitation and regional economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at a high-level visit to the Commissioner-General of the Customs Division of GRA, Brigadier General Glover Annan, at the Authority’s Headquarters in Accra, Ghana, said that both agencies underscored the importance of intelligence sharing, harmonised border procedures, and joint enforcement strategies as critical tools to curb transnational crimes and enhance legitimate trade between the two West African nations.
Anan welcomed the Nigerian delegation and expressed Ghana’s readiness to strengthen operational ties with the Nigeria Customs Service.
“Our nations are united not just by history and culture but also by a shared vision to strengthen customs operations. The Nigeria Customs Service has continued to inspire our reforms and innovation in Ghana, and we see great opportunities in renewing our collaboration,” Brig.-Gen. Annan said.
He also commended the NCS for championing the Customs-Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) initiative, developed in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and supported by the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
He noted that the upcoming C-PACT Conference, scheduled to take place in Abuja in the next few days , will provide a continental platform for Customs administrations to explore new frameworks for transparency, lawful trade, and sustainable economic growth.
Similarly, Nigerian Customs boss, Adeniyi noted that criminal networks were exploiting existing operational gaps between Customs administrations across Africa to facilitate illicit trade, including the smuggling of dangerous substances and contraband goods. He emphasised that enhanced cooperation was crucial to counter these threats and protect regional economies.
“We must bridge the gaps between our administrations because these are the same weaknesses that transnational criminals exploit. The more we work together, exchanging intelligence and building capacity, the stronger we will be against these syndicates,” the CGC said.
He recalled that Nigeria and Ghana had signed a memorandum of understanding on Customs cooperation in 2001 and suggested that both countries review and update the document to reflect contemporary realities and new opportunities under the AfCFTA.
“It would be my wish that we take a second look at that agreement and breathe new life into it. We can identify new areas of collaboration that align with today’s challenges and the future we envision for African trade,” he stated.
Adeniyi further highlighted that his visit aimed to seek the GRA’s support for the forthcoming C-PACT Conference, as well as explore joint strategies to enhance intra-African trade and economic prosperity.
“Our mission is to strengthen the role of Customs as a major promoter of AfCFTA. We want to increase the volume of trade within Africa and ensure that trade becomes a true driver of growth and prosperity for our people,” he said.
The engagement between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Ghana Customs is expected to lay the groundwork for a renewed bilateral framework focused on intelligence-led enforcement, coordinated border management, and trade modernisation across the sub-region.
