Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, and the Ghana Revenue Authority, GRA, have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cross-border cooperation to combat illicit trade and strengthen regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this known during a high-level visit to the Commissioner-General of the Customs Division of the GRA, Brigadier-General Glover Annan, at the Authority’s Headquarters in Accra, Ghana.
The meeting, marked a major step toward reinforcing intelligence sharing, harmonised border procedures, and joint enforcement strategies between both nations, all aimed at curbing transnational crimes and enhancing legitimate trade across West Africa.
Speaking during the engagement, Brig.-Gen. Annan praised the longstanding cooperation between Nigeria and Ghana, describing both nations as “natural partners in progress.”
He said, “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.”
The Ghanaian Customs chief also commended the NCS for championing the Customs-Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) initiative, a continental framework developed in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank, Afreximbank, and the World Customs Organisation.
He said the upcoming C-PACT Conference, scheduled for Abuja from November 17 to 19, 2025, will “provide a vital platform for African Customs administrations to advance lawful trade and transparent operations that drive economic growth.”
In his remarks, CGC Adeniyi highlighted the growing threat of cross-border criminal syndicates, noting that smugglers were exploiting operational gaps between African Customs administrations to traffic contraband and evade duties.
“We must bridge the gaps between our administrations because these are the same weaknesses that transnational criminals exploit,” Adeniyi said. “The more we work together, exchanging intelligence and building capacity, the stronger we will be against these syndicates.”
The NCS boss further recalled that both countries had signed a memorandum of understanding on Customs cooperation in 2001 and called for its urgent review.
“It would be my wish that we take a second look at that agreement and breathe new life into it,” he said. “We can identify new areas of collaboration that align with today’s challenges and the future we envision for African trade.”
Adeniyi also sought Ghana’s support for the upcoming C-PACT Conference, emphasizing its significance for promoting intra-African trade.
“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.”
The meeting concluded with a joint commitment to build a renewed bilateral framework centered on intelligence-led enforcement, coordinated border management, and trade facilitation initiatives.
