NCS Deepens WCO Integrity Partnership, Receives Global Commendation
As part of efforts to reinforce institutional integrity and align with global best practices in customs administration, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme.
This followed a high-level meeting held recently at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, during a working visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who also serves as Chairperson of the WCO Council. The engagement enabled the A-CIP team to brief him on the progress of its ongoing partnership with the NCS.
Discussions focused on integrity capacity-building initiatives, the development of integrity-driven standard operating procedures, and plans to conduct an integrity risk assessment in 2026. The team also outlined its strategic priorities for Phase II of the programme (2026–2030), which will emphasize integrating integrity safeguards into automated customs systems, trade facilitation frameworks, and revenue administration processes.
The A-CIP team commended the NCS for its active participation in the WCO integrity survey and for approving the release of its findings, describing the move as a strong demonstration of transparency and accountability. The survey results further highlight the impact of ongoing reforms within the Service, including structured valuation review systems, enhanced post-clearance audit processes, and the implementation of the Voluntary Disclosure Framework under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
In his remarks, the Comptroller-General appreciated the A-CIP team for its continued support and reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to strengthening the partnership, noting that integrity remains critical to the credibility of customs administrations, especially in today’s complex global trade environment.
Both parties agreed on key forward-looking actions to consolidate progress under the A-CIP Programme. These include publishing the integrity survey results, establishing and training a dedicated implementation working group, and integrating the survey recommendations into NCS operations and processes.
In a related development, the Comptroller-General also held a strategic meeting with WCO Secretary-General Ian Saunders and other secretariat officials, where they exchanged updates on the activities of the Policy Commission and the Council.
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