AfCFTA: Customs to synergise systems, strengthen Intelligence backed enforcement
By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is repositioning its enforcement architecture ahead of an expected increase in intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with greater emphasis on technology, intelligence sharing and harmonisation of Customs systems across the continent.
The Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Gambo Aliyu, disclosed this during an interaction with executives of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON).
Aliyu said the transformation was necessary to enable Nigeria to manage rising cargo volumes and facilitate legitimate trade without compromising national security or revenue collection.
He explained that the Service was moving away from predominantly traditional enforcement methods to a model driven by intelligence, risk assessment, technology and strategic partnerships.
According to him, intelligence-driven enforcement remains a major component of Customs operations, but it is only one of several approaches being deployed by the Service.
He said the deployment of modern tools and techniques would enable Customs to identify and interdict high-risk consignments while allowing legitimate cargo to move with minimal disruption.
The Comptroller stressed that trade facilitation was equally important, noting that cargo throughput and turnaround time remained critical considerations in Customs operations.
He said modern risk-assessment systems were therefore essential to achieving the balance between enforcement and the smooth flow of legitimate commerce.
Aliyu warned that reliance on analogue processes would make Customs operations unnecessarily cumbersome and leave the Service out of international best practices.
He said the administration was deliberately evolving its operations to remain responsive to contemporary realities and prepare for emerging demands in global trade.
On AfCFTA, the Comptroller said Nigeria could not afford to operate in isolation as African countries increasingly move towards deeper economic integration.
He said there was a need for Customs administrations across the continent to develop seamless interfaces and harmonised systems that would facilitate cross-border trade.
Aliyu cited the engagements undertaken by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, with Customs administrations in East Africa and other countries as part of efforts to understand their systems and strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for AfCFTA.
He said such engagements would help Nigeria take a stronger position in shaping the Customs and trade facilitation architecture required for increased intra-African commerce.
The Comptroller Aliyu also emphasised the importance of collaboration with stakeholders, saying the NCS was moving beyond conventional inter-agency cooperation towards strategic partnerships.
He described the engagement with AMJON as part of that broader partnership approach, stressing that effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders were important to strengthening enforcement and facilitating legitimate trade.
Aliyu said the Service would continue to leverage innovation, intelligence and technology to build a modern Customs administration capable of supporting Nigeria’s economic ambitions while effectively protecting the country’s borders.
