In a major diplomatic stride, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Netherlands Customs Administration have deepened bilateral cooperation on trade facilitation, compliance management, and border efficiency.
The development followed a two-day working visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs CGC Adewale Adeniyi, and his delegation to the Netherlands between October 29 and 31, 2025. The visit featured a series of technical engagements, institutional briefings, and strategic meetings with Dutch authorities and Customs experts.
At the Dutch Customs Headquarters in Rotterdam, the delegation was received by senior officials and briefed by the National Tariff Classification Team (TeamLTT) and the Customs National Tactical Centre (DLTC) on tariff procedures, origin control, and risk management systems.
Speaking during one of the sessions, CGC Adeniyi commended the Netherlands for its data-driven and structured approach to compliance, describing it as a model for modern Customs administration.
“The presentations have been particularly insightful in showing how systematic collaboration and data-driven analysis can enhance compliance and trade facilitation across borders,” he said.
Adeniyi reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to adopting international best practices that balance trade facilitation with enforcement, ensuring legitimate trade thrives while revenue and national security are protected.
The delegation also visited Schiphol Airport and the Port of Rotterdam, where they were briefed on advanced cargo-tracking systems, pre-arrival processing, and intermodal logistics. These sessions, Adeniyi said, provided practical insights into how Customs–port synergy can drive seamless trade and revenue optimisation.
Deputy Comptroller-General Caroline Niagwan, who heads the Tariff and Trade Department, noted that lessons from the Netherlands would strengthen Nigeria’s ongoing Customs modernisation drive and improve cargo handling processes.
The bilateral engagement continued at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, where both sides agreed to explore frameworks for technical assistance, digital innovation, and gender inclusion in Customs operations.
Director-General of International Trade, Mr. Machiel Zweers, described the engagement as “a new chapter of institutional partnership built on trust and innovation.”
In his closing remarks, CGC Adeniyi said the visit underscored NCS’s strategic intent to benchmark global standards through technology, partnership, and shared expertise.
“This engagement has provided us with a clearer picture of how modern Customs administrations can achieve efficiency through collaboration and innovation,” he said.
The NCS delegation included DCG Caroline Niagwan, Deputy Comptroller Etim Ibok (Special Assistant to the CGC), Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada (National PRO), and Assistant Comptroller Lauretta Utubor, Team Lead of Nigeria’s Advance Ruling System, among others.
