The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the American Business Council (ABC) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening trade relations and addressing challenges affecting business operations through sustained public-private sector collaboration.
The resolution was reached during a quarterly engagement held on June 16, 2026, at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja, where both parties discussed strategies to enhance trade facilitation, strengthen security, and promote stronger economic ties between Nigeria and the United States.
Speaking at the meeting, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, underscored the importance of regular stakeholder consultations, announcing plans to institutionalise the engagement as a permanent feature of the Service’s calendar.
“It is our intention that we will institutionalise this as a permanent feature of the Customs calendar because of the importance we attach to this kind of engagement,” Adeniyi stated.
The Customs boss also briefed participants on ongoing reforms and trade facilitation initiatives being implemented by the Service. These include the Advance Ruling system, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, Post Clearance Audit processes, the B’Odogwu platform, and improvements in scanning integration and cargo clearance procedures aimed at enhancing efficiency and transparency in international trade.
Members of the American Business Council commended the reforms and acknowledged the Service’s efforts to improve the business environment. They, however, called for faster mechanisms to resolve outstanding issues affecting business operations.
President of the American Business Council, Nneka Enwereji, described the meeting as productive and applauded the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service for its commitment to promoting ease of doing business.
“This session has been phenomenal and demonstrates your commitment to improving ease of doing business. You have raised the bar, and there is a lot that can be learned from this,” she said.
The meeting further reinforced the shared commitment of both organisations to fostering a more efficient, transparent, and business-friendly trade environment that supports economic growth and bilateral commerce between Nigeria and the United States.
