Friday, November 7, 2025 - The Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in the fight against illicit trade, while promoting seamless trade facilitation and regional economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Adeniyi made this known during a high-level visit to the
Commissioner-General of the Customs Division of the GRA, Brigadier General
Glover Annan, at the Authority’s headquarters in Accra, Ghana, on November 3,
2025.
The National Spokesperson of the NCS, Dr Abdullahi Maiwada,
disclosed this in a statement yesterday, noting that both agencies underscored
the importance of intelligence sharing, harmonised border procedures, and joint
enforcement strategies as critical tools to curb transnational crimes and
enhance legitimate trade between the two West African nations.
Adeniyi emphasised that criminal networks were exploiting
operational gaps between Customs administrations across Africa to facilitate
illicit trade, including the smuggling of dangerous substances and contraband
goods. He stressed that enhanced cooperation was crucial to counter these
threats and protect regional economies.
“We must bridge the gaps between our administrations because
these are the same weaknesses that transnational criminals exploit. The more we
work together, exchanging intelligence and building capacity, the stronger we
will be against these syndicates,” the CGC said.
He recalled that Nigeria and Ghana had signed a memorandum
of understanding on Customs cooperation in 2001 and suggested that both
countries review and update the document to reflect contemporary realities and
new opportunities under the AfCFTA.
Speaking during the engagement, the Commissioner of the
Customs Division of the GRA welcomed the Nigerian delegation and expressed
Ghana’s readiness to strengthen operational ties with the Nigeria Customs
Service.
“Our nations are united not just by history and culture but
also by a shared vision to strengthen customs operations. The Nigeria Customs
Service has continued to inspire our reforms and innovation in Ghana, and we
see great opportunities in renewing our collaboration,” Annan said.
He also commended the NCS for championing the
Customs-Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) initiative,
developed in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
and supported by the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
He noted that the upcoming C-PACT Conference, scheduled to
take place in Abuja from November 17 to 19, 2025, will provide a continental
platform for Customs administrations to explore new frameworks for
transparency, lawful trade, and sustainable economic growth.
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