The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has commended British American Tobacco (BAT) for its strong regulatory compliance, investment in Nigeria and contribution to the country’s economy, urging other investors to adopt similar business practices.
Adeniyi made the commendation on Monday, September 14, 2026, during a visit to the BAT manufacturing facility in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he described the company’s operation as an example of the kind of investment capable of supporting Nigeria’s economic diversification.
The Customs boss said he was particularly impressed by the company’s commitment to regulatory compliance and its contributions to government revenue, employment generation and local agriculture.
“As a customs officer, I cannot but notice the high level of commitment to compliance. So I’m indeed very, very grateful. And I would say that this is one investment that Nigeria got right, and I wish we could have so many companies giving this kind of opportunity and giving back this much to Nigeria,” Adeniyi said.
He explained that BAT contributed to government revenue through multiple channels, including customs duties on imported materials and excise duties on products manufactured locally.
Adeniyi said the visit was also in line with the Federal Government’s efforts to promote a non-oil, export-led economy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the Nigeria Customs Service had repositioned its operations to facilitate exports and support legitimate businesses.
He disclosed that the Service had established a dedicated command in Lagos responsible for export-related matters, alongside several export processing terminals to facilitate the movement of Nigerian products to international markets.
“We have established a terminal, a command that is specifically looking after issues of exports. So that’s the only thing they do in that particular command in Lagos. We have a number of exports processing terminals in and around Lagos that are tied to that command where exports are being processed,” he said.
The CGC urged other investors to take their cue from BAT by prioritising compliance, integrity and positive community impact, stressing that adherence to regulatory requirements could strengthen the relationship between businesses and government.
“In terms of size, this is probably the biggest in terms of size of operation in Africa. So we invite other investors; they should take their cue from here,” Adeniyi said.
He added that businesses should “play according to the rules” and emulate BAT’s commitment to compliance and integrity while making meaningful contributions to the communities where they operate.
According to him, such an approach would produce a “win-win situation” for investors and the Nigerian economy through increased investment, higher government revenue, job creation and broader economic growth.
During the visit, Adeniyi also participated in a tree-planting exercise as part of BAT’s environmental sustainability initiative and toured the company’s manufacturing facility.
