By Peace Udugba
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Fire Service (FFS) and Unilever Nigeria PLC have signed separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen cooperation, improve safety, combat counterfeit products and support legitimate trade and Nigeria’s economic growth.
The agreements were signed on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja, as part of efforts to deepen inter-agency and public-private sector collaboration.
During the engagement with the Federal Fire Service, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, described the MoU as a bold and strategic step towards strengthening inter-agency cooperation and advancing the shared mandates of both agencies to protect lives, property and critical national assets.
Adeniyi said the agreement would enhance fire safety standards across Customs facilities, facilitate rapid emergency response, promote joint training and capacity building, and improve information sharing on fire safety and emergency preparedness.
“I am very confident that this MoU will translate to practical actions that save lives, protect government assets, and enhance our collective capacity to respond to emergencies,” Adeniyi said.
The Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Adeyemi, described the agreement as a significant milestone in the relationship between the two agencies.
Adeyemi said the FFS would deploy its expertise and resources to strengthen fire safety and protect Customs personnel, facilities and other assets.
In a separate engagement with Unilever Nigeria PLC, Adeniyi said the partnership underscored the Customs Service’s commitment to deeper collaboration with the private sector, particularly in addressing challenges affecting trade and industrial development.
According to him, the agreement would strengthen cooperation in the prevention of counterfeiting, intelligence sharing, and the identification and verification of suspected counterfeit products.
He explained that the MoU would provide a structured channel for real-time information on trademarks, product identification features, packaging and product samples.
The Customs CGC noted that engagements with private-sector stakeholders provide valuable insights that help shape the Service’s policies and operational decisions.
“Some of the takeaways we get from these engagements with the private sector influence the policies and decisions that we take,” he stated.
Adeniyi also commended Unilever for its sustained investment, innovation and employment generation in Nigeria, describing the company as a major partner in the country’s trade and industrial sector.
Speaking on the partnership, the Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria PLC, Tobi Adeniyi, highlighted the company’s long-standing presence in Nigeria since 1923.
He said more than 70 per cent of Unilever’s raw materials had been localised, while the company supports about 15,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria.
Tobi Adeniyi commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its ongoing transformation, particularly its digitalisation initiatives, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and other measures aimed at facilitating legitimate trade.
He said previous engagements between Unilever and the NCS had already produced practical results, including the application of lessons from training involving more than 70 Customs officers.
He reaffirmed Unilever’s commitment to working with the Customs Service to combat counterfeiting and illicit trade, while expanding the partnership through further engagements across the country.
The new partnerships are expected to strengthen institutional cooperation, improve protection of lives and property, safeguard consumers and businesses, and contribute to a more secure and efficient trading environment in Nigeria.
