The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority to combat illicit trade and promote seamless trade facilitation under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
This was disclosed in a statement by the National Public Relations Officer of the service, Abdullahi Maiwada, following a recent high-level visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, to the Commissioner-General of the Customs Division of the GRA, Brigadier General Glover Annan, in Accra, Ghana.
Both agencies underscored the importance of intelligence sharing, harmonised border procedures, and joint enforcement operations as crucial steps toward curbing transnational crimes and boosting legitimate trade between the two West African nations.
Welcoming the Nigerian delegation, Brigadier General Annan expressed Ghana’s readiness to strengthen operational ties with the NCS. “Our nations are united not just by history and culture but by a shared vision to improve customs operations. The Nigeria Customs Service has inspired several of our reforms and innovations, and we see great opportunities in renewing our collaboration,” he said.
Annan commended the NCS for championing the Customs-Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade initiative, developed in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank and supported by the World Customs Organisation. He noted that the forthcoming C-PACT Conference in Abuja would serve as a continental platform for customs administrations to explore frameworks for transparency, lawful trade, and sustainable economic growth.
In his remarks, CGC Adeniyi highlighted that criminal networks were exploiting operational gaps among African customs administrations to facilitate smuggling and other illicit trade activities. He stressed the need for closer cooperation and intelligence exchange to safeguard regional economies.
“We must bridge the gaps between our administrations because these are the same weaknesses transnational criminals exploit. The more we work together, sharing intelligence and building capacity, the stronger we will be against these networks,” Adeniyi stated.
He also recalled the 2001 memorandum of understanding on customs cooperation between Nigeria and Ghana and proposed a review to align it with current realities and opportunities presented by AfCFTA. “It would be my wish that we take a second look at that agreement and breathe new life into it,” he said.
Adeniyi added that his visit sought to secure Ghana’s support for the upcoming C-PACT Conference and to explore new strategies for promoting intra-African trade and regional prosperity.
“Our mission is to strengthen the role of customs as a key driver of AfCFTA. We want to expand trade within Africa and ensure it becomes a real engine of growth and prosperity for our people,” he said.
The engagement between both customs agencies is expected to pave the way for a renewed bilateral framework anchored on intelligence-led enforcement, coordinated border management, and modernised trade processes across West Africa.
