By Peace Udugba -The Daily Torch Media
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the United Kingdom have advanced discussions to finalize a Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement (CMAA), aiming to strengthen information sharing, compliance, and trade facilitation between both nations.
Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) of Customs in charge of Strategic Research and Policy, Nafi’u Isyaku—who represented Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi during a high-level bilateral meeting with the HMRC delegation on Friday—stated that the engagement was critical to concluding negotiations ahead of a proposed December signing.
ACG Isyaku noted that after six months of virtual discussions, both parties convened in person at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, to resolve outstanding issues.
“The meeting is to finalize our Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement (CMAA). We have been negotiating virtually for about six months, but decided to meet in person to conclude talks ahead of the official signing, which is expected during the World Customs Organization Policy Commission meeting in December,” Isyaku said.
Commenting on the bilateral engagement, Syed Moinuddin, Senior Policy Adviser at HMRC, described the session as an invaluable opportunity for both customs administrations to build a framework that reflects their shared strategic interests, while deepening ties within the international customs community.
Similarly, Louisa Bentley, Head of Bilateral Relations and Agreements at HMRC, highlighted the success of the two-day talks, noting that both sides are on the verge of concluding the deal.
“The agreement will boost trade by improving compliance and information sharing between HMRC and the NCS, while enhancing trade facilitation for both partners across global market opportunities,” Bentley said.
Bentley also praised the ongoing reforms at the NCS following a facility tour of key operational units, including the Trade Modernization Project Limited office, the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) unit, and the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN) station.
“We have seen significant developments in technology and personnel training,” Bentley added, emphasizing that the modernization initiatives would foster faster and more efficient trade processes.
The bilateral meeting, which ran from Thursday, September 25 to Friday, September 26, concluded with a guided tour of key departments, providing the UK delegation a firsthand look at the operational progress and structural reforms being implemented by the NCS.
