The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the United Kingdom International Development, has intensified efforts to strengthen its internal anti-corruption framework through a workshop on corruption risk analysis, risk mapping and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The initiative formed part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective risk management across Customs operations.
Speaking at the closing ceremony held on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the WCO-supported mission as a significant step towards strengthening institutional integrity, growth and corruption risk management within the Service.
Adeniyi stressed that the exercise was not designed to find fault or apportion blame, but to enable the Service to critically examine its processes, identify vulnerabilities and develop sustainable solutions.
He said the assessment covered critical Customs operations, including regulatory and administrative procedures, cargo clearance, inspection and examination, enforcement and compliance, procurement, as well as human resource management.
“The purpose of what we have therefore been doing with our partners was to identify such areas of vulnerabilities, assess the associated risk and develop practical measures to mitigate them,” the CGC stated.
The Customs boss reaffirmed the commitment of the Service to measures that promote transparency, accountability and stronger internal controls, while simplifying processes and deploying technology to minimise unnecessary discretion.
According to him, a transparent, predictable and accountable Customs administration would be better positioned to facilitate legitimate trade, improve compliance and enhance public confidence.
The WCO Lead Technical Expert, Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, Arman Zhalitov, commended the Comptroller-General for his continued support of the initiative and urged members of the working group to ensure the endorsement and implementation of the workshop outcomes.
Zhalitov said the outcomes include a comprehensive action plan containing clear steps towards advancing trade facilitation and strengthening the anti-corruption agenda of the Service.
Also speaking, David Tanenbaum, WCO Programme Manager for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, highlighted achievements recorded in areas including Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), post-clearance audit and the time-release study.
He noted that integrity could not be treated in isolation from broader institutional reforms, stressing that the progress recorded demonstrated that the partnership was producing tangible operational and institutional results.
“Our work continues to bring us closer to a systematic, preventive approach to identifying and managing corruption risks within customs operations,” Tanenbaum said.
The workshop is expected to contribute to the development and adoption of practical SOPs and an action plan that will help the NCS identify, prevent and mitigate corruption risks while improving efficiency and predictability in Customs operations.
The initiative further underscored the Service’s ongoing efforts to align its operations with international best practices in trade facilitation, integrity management and institutional reform.
