From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the American Business Council (ABC) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade relations and addressing bottlenecks affecting business operations through sustained public-private sector engagement.
According to a statement issued in Abuja by the Nigeria Customs Service, the resolution was reached during a quarterly meeting held on June 16, 2026, at the Service Headquarters in Abuja.
Discussions focused on improving trade facilitation, enhancing security, and promoting 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 consultations with stakeholders, noting that the engagement would be institutionalised as a permanent feature of the Service’s calendar.
“It is our intention to institutionalise this as a permanent feature of the Customs calendar because of the importance we attach to this kind of engagement,” Adeniyi said.
The Customs boss also briefed participants on developments in key trade facilitation initiatives, including the Advance Ruling System, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, Post-Clearance Audit, the B’Odogwu platform, and ongoing improvements in scanning integration and cargo clearance procedures aimed at enhancing operational efficiency.
Members of the American Business Council welcomed the reforms and commended the Service’s efforts, while calling for faster mechanisms to address outstanding challenges affecting businesses.
President of the American Business Council, Nneka Enwereji, described the meeting as productive and praised the Customs leadership for its commitment to improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
“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 highlighted the shared commitment of both organisations to fostering a more efficient trade environment and strengthening economic cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.