Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ In an attempt to improve and revolutionize customs services, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has deepened collaboration with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) in the fields of advanced training, technological programs, and bilateral cooperation in modernization.
The tie-up, which was announced by NCS publicist Abdullahi Maiwada on Sunday in Abuja, followed a top-level meeting in Beijing between top-ranking officials of the two countries. Representing Nigeria was Oluyomi Adebakin, Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada. The 21-member team met with senior officials of the International Cooperation Division of the GACC, the Training and Education Centre, and Shanghai Customs College, clearing the way for successful sharing of knowledge and future cooperation.
The new alliance is a hallmark, with China emerging as one of Nigeria’s pillars of international trade infrastructure. The discussion brought to the fore Nigeria’s interest in participating in China‘s future Customs Modernization Courses and officer development. The visit also centered on cooperative alliances in customs technology, cross-border intelligence, and port system innovation.
The Chinese delegation also brought along the latest customs training tools, like 5G systems, virtual reality training units, and online learning methods, which together helped provide more than 8,000 in-person trainings and 360 virtual courses in 2024 alone.
Mr. Maiwada indicated Nigeria’s keen engagement in China-initiated customs activities, with over 200 African customs officers, of which 89 are Nigerians, already making use of training on trade facilitation, anti-smuggling, food safety, and e-port operations since 2023.
The Chinese government officials welcomed the new reforms in the NCS and expressed their admiration for Nigeria’s ascent to the forefront of global customs governance. They particularly celebrated the rise of NCS Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale-Adeniyi to the position of Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, calling it a breakthrough moment in Nigeria’s diplomatic and institutional authorities.
With the ever more complicated and digitally driven international trading regime, this deepening partnership between Nigeria and China is a pledge to networked modernization of customs platforms through cooperative innovation, mutual training, and strategic sharing of intelligence, all necessary to heighten trade security and efficiency on the African continent.
