The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS and the Netherlands Customs Administration have signed a Joint Declaration aimed at strengthening cooperation on trade facilitation, border security, intelligence sharing, capacity building and the fight against transnational organised crime.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday in Brussels by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the Director-General of Netherlands Customs, Nanette Van Schelven, following a series of high-level engagements between both customs administrations.
The declaration marks a major step in efforts by both countries to enhance customs modernisation, improve compliance management, strengthen enforcement cooperation and facilitate legitimate international trade.
The partnership builds on the Nigeria Customs Service’s working visit to the Netherlands in October 2025 and a reciprocal visit by a Dutch Customs delegation to Nigeria in March 2026, during which both sides explored opportunities for collaboration in risk management, cargo clearance systems, border control, supply chain security, trade facilitation and capacity development.
In the declaration, both administrations acknowledged Nigeria’s strategic role as one of West Africa’s largest economies and an important trading partner of the Netherlands. They also stressed the importance of customs cooperation and institutional capacity building in promoting lawful trade while addressing cross-border criminal activities.
The agreement highlighted growing concerns over the trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, as well as counterfeit goods, wildlife products and weapons, noting that such threats require coordinated international responses.
Speaking after signing the declaration, Adeniyi said the partnership demonstrates the importance of international cooperation in addressing emerging challenges in global trade and border management.
According to him, the agreement will enhance intelligence sharing, strengthen capacity development initiatives, improve enforcement effectiveness and support efforts to secure international supply chains while facilitating legitimate trade.
“This declaration represents a significant milestone in our international cooperation agenda and reflects the strong relationship that has developed between our two customs administrations over the years,” Adeniyi said.
Van Schelven noted that both customs administrations face similar challenges in an increasingly interconnected global trading environment and would benefit from closer collaboration.
She said the partnership would promote mutual learning, strengthen operational capabilities and improve efforts to combat transnational organised crime while supporting efficient and transparent trade processes.
Under the agreement, both parties committed to expanding cooperation through the exchange of expertise, training programmes, knowledge-sharing initiatives and the development of structured cooperation frameworks.
The declaration also provides a foundation for a joint work plan and future collaboration mechanisms aimed at improving border efficiency, promoting fair trade practices, enhancing supply chain security and addressing challenges associated with both legal and illegal cross-border movement of goods.
The agreement is expected to deepen bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands while strengthening customs operations and trade facilitation efforts in both countries.
