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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has concluded a workshop with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the United Kingdom’s International Development agency aimed at strengthening its internal anti-corruption framework through corruption risk analysis, risk mapping, and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Speaking at the closing ceremony at NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, described the WCO-backed mission as a critical step toward strengthening institutional integrity and corruption risk management, stressing that the exercise was not about fault-finding but about enabling the Service to identify its own weaknesses and develop sustainable solutions.
Adeniyi said the assessment covered core Customs processes, including regulatory and administrative procedures, clearance processes, inspection and examination, enforcement and compliance, and 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,” he said.
He affirmed that the Service would continue to support measures strengthening transparency, accountability, internal controls, process simplification, and greater use of technology to curb unnecessary discretion.
“A customs administration that is transparent, that is predictable and accountable, is better positioned to facilitate legitimate trade, improve compliance, and enhance public confidence,” he added.
The WCO’s Lead Technical Expert for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, Arman Zhalitov, commended the CGC’s support and urged the working group to champion the endorsement of the workshop’s outcomes, including a comprehensive action plan setting out steps to advance trade facilitation and reinforce the anti-corruption agenda.
Also speaking, WCO Programme Manager for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, David Tanenbaum, highlighted progress under the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) scheme, post-clearance audit, and the time-release study, noting that integrity “does not exist in a vacuum.
” He said the results show the partnership is delivering tangible institutional and operational gains.
“Our work continues to bring us closer to a systematic, preventive approach to identifying and managing corruption risks within customs operations,” he said.
