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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership with the World Bank Group under the Accelerated Revenue Mobilisation Reform (ARMOR) Programme, has concluded a two-week technical assistance mission aimed at strengthening its Post Clearance Audit (PCA) operations.
The programme, which ran from 1 to 12 June 2026, focused on improving compliance management, revenue assurance, and trade facilitation through modern audit systems and risk-based enforcement tools.
At the closing ceremony, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, Tijjani Abe, said the Service remains committed to deepening Post Clearance Audit as a key instrument for promoting voluntary compliance and protecting government revenue.
He noted that modern customs administration must be intelligence-driven, risk-based, and aligned with international standards.
According to him, the real success of the programme would not be measured by its completion, but by how effectively the knowledge gained is applied to improve performance and service delivery across the Service.
Abe reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to continued collaboration with the World Bank, the World Customs Organisation (WCO), and other development partners in strengthening institutional capacity and operational efficiency.
Earlier, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of PCA, Babatunde Olomu, said the technical sessions, problem-solving exercises, and assessments conducted during the mission had laid a strong foundation for reforms within the audit system.
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He said the outcomes would support a new phase of modernisation in the Service, describing the Post Clearance Audit framework as a critical component of a risk-intelligent and globally compliant customs system.
Participants at the programme presented several key outputs developed during the two-week engagement. These include draft Standard Operating Procedures, a Case File Management System, trader segmentation models, audit checklists, registry management tools, and quality assurance frameworks.
An annual audit plan covering 30 audit cases across headquarters and three operational zones was also unveiled. Implementation of the plan is expected to run within a 45-day timeframe.
The World Bank Group, which supported the mission, said institutional strengthening and continuous training remain essential for effective customs reform.
Speaking on behalf of the institution, Task Team Lead Moses Kajubi said sustainable Post Clearance Audit operations require not only tools and processes but also sustained capacity building and strong institutional backing.
He reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting the Nigeria Customs Service in implementing the outcomes of the mission and deepening ongoing reforms under the ARMOR Programme.
