Customs, WCO, UK Strengthen Anti-Corruption Measures
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the United Kingdom International Development, is intensifying efforts to strengthen its internal anti-corruption framework through a workshop on corruption risk analysis, risk mapping and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the workshop on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, described the WCO-supported mission as a significant step towards promoting institutional growth, integrity and effective corruption risk management within the Service.
Adeniyi stressed that the exercise was not aimed at fault-finding or assigning blame, but rather provided an opportunity for the Service to critically assess its processes, identify vulnerabilities and develop sustainable solutions.
According to him, the assessment covered critical Customs operations, including regulatory and administrative procedures, cargo clearance, inspection and examination, enforcement and compliance, procurement, as well as human resource management.
“The purpose of what we have therefore been doing with our partners was to identify such areas of vulnerabilities, assess the associated risk and develop practical measures to mitigate them,” he said.
The CGC reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to initiatives that promote transparency, accountability and stronger internal controls, while simplifying processes and deploying technology to minimise unnecessary discretion.
He noted that a transparent, predictable and accountable Customs administration would be better positioned to facilitate legitimate trade, improve compliance and strengthen public confidence.
The World Customs Organisation Lead Technical Expert for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, Arman Zhalitov, commended the CGC for his continued support of the initiative and urged the working group to champion the endorsement and implementation of the workshop’s outcomes.
He said the outcomes included a comprehensive action plan outlining clear measures to advance trade facilitation and strengthen the NCS anti-corruption agenda.
Also speaking, the WCO Programme Manager for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, David Tanenbaum, highlighted progress recorded in areas such as Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), post-clearance audit and the Time Release Study.
Tanenbaum stressed that integrity could not be treated in isolation, noting that the achievements recorded through the partnership demonstrated tangible institutional and operational improvements.
“Our work continues to bring us closer to a systematic, preventive approach to identifying and managing corruption risks within customs operations,” he said.
