By Peace Udugba
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and UK International Development, has strengthened efforts to tackle corruption risks through a workshop on corruption risk analysis, risk mapping and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The workshop, which focused on strengthening the Service’s internal anti-corruption framework, ended on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the WCO-supported exercise as an important step towards strengthening institutional growth, integrity and corruption risk management within the Service.
Adeniyi said the exercise was not intended to find fault or apportion blame, but to enable the Service to assess its operations, identify vulnerabilities and develop sustainable solutions.
He said the assessment covered key Customs processes, including regulatory and administrative procedures, clearance, inspection and examination, enforcement and compliance, procurement, and human resource management.
“The purpose of what we have therefore been doing with our partners was to identify such areas of vulnerabilities, assess the associated risk and develop practical measures to mitigate them,” the CGC stated.
The Customs boss reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to measures that promote transparency, accountability, stronger internal controls, process simplification and the use of technology to reduce unnecessary discretion.
He noted that a transparent, predictable and accountable Customs administration would be better positioned to facilitate legitimate trade, improve compliance and enhance public confidence.
The WCO Lead Technical Expert for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, Arman Zhalitov, commended the CGC for his continued support and urged the working group to ensure the endorsement and implementation of the workshop outcomes.
Zhalitov said the outcomes included a comprehensive action plan outlining clear steps to advance trade facilitation and strengthen the anti-corruption agenda.
Also speaking, David Tanenbaum, WCO Programme Manager for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, highlighted achievements recorded in areas including Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), post-clearance audit and the Time Release Study.
Tanenbaum stressed that integrity must be integrated into broader Customs reforms, noting that the partnership had produced tangible institutional and operational results.
“Our work continues to bring us closer to a systematic, preventive approach to identifying and managing corruption risks within customs operations,” he said.
The initiative is expected to further strengthen the NCS’s internal controls and promote a more transparent, efficient and integrity-driven Customs administration.
