By Peace Udugba
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs Administration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have signed a Joint Declaration aimed at strengthening cooperation in trade facilitation, border security, capacity building, and the fight against transnational organised crime.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Brussels by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the Director-General of Netherlands Customs, Mrs. Nanette Van Schelven.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, the declaration marks a significant step in enhancing collaboration between the two customs administrations and reinforces efforts to facilitate legitimate trade while tackling illegal cross-border activities.
The partnership follows a series of high-level engagements between both countries, including a bilateral working visit by the Nigeria Customs Service to the Netherlands in October 2025 and a return visit by a Dutch Customs delegation to Nigeria in March 2026.
During the engagements, both administrations explored opportunities for cooperation in key areas such as risk management, cargo clearance systems, trade facilitation, border control, supply chain security, capacity development, and the fight against illicit trade.
The declaration acknowledges Nigeria’s strategic role as one of West Africa’s leading economies and an important trading partner of the Netherlands. Both parties also recognised the importance of customs cooperation and institutional capacity-building in promoting legitimate trade and addressing illegal cross-border activities.
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The agreement further highlights growing concerns over the trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, counterfeit goods, wildlife products, and weapons, stressing the need for coordinated international responses to these challenges.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Adeniyi said the Netherlands Customs had demonstrated the immense value of international cooperation in addressing emerging trade and border management challenges.
He noted that the partnership would strengthen intelligence sharing, enhance capacity building, improve enforcement effectiveness, and support efforts to secure international supply chains while facilitating legitimate trade.
“The declaration represents a significant milestone in our international cooperation agenda and reflects the strong relationship built between our two administrations over the years,” he said.
Also speaking, Van Schelven said both customs administrations face similar challenges in an increasingly interconnected global trading environment.
She stated that closer collaboration would promote mutual learning, strengthen operational capabilities, and improve efforts to combat transnational organised crime while supporting efficient and transparent trade processes.
Under the agreement, both parties committed to deepening cooperation through the exchange of expertise, training programmes, knowledge sharing, and the development of structured collaboration frameworks.
The declaration also provides a foundation for a joint work plan and future cooperation mechanisms aimed at enhancing border efficiency, promoting fair trade practices, strengthening supply chain security, and addressing challenges associated with both legal and illegal cross-border movement of goods.
