The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal Fire Service, FFS and Unilever Nigeria PLC have signed separate Memoranda of Understanding, MoUs to strengthen cooperation, protect lives and property, safeguard legitimate trade and consumers, and support Nigeria’s economic growth.
The agreements were signed on August 27, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja, with the partnerships focused on strengthening inter-agency cooperation and deepening collaboration between Customs and the private sector.
Speaking during the engagement with the FFS, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the MoU as a strategic step towards strengthening the shared mandates of both agencies to protect lives, property and critical national assets.
Adeniyi said the agreement would improve fire safety standards across Customs facilities, facilitate rapid emergency response, support joint training and capacity building, and promote 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,” he said.
The Controller-General of the FFS, Olumode Adeyemi, described the agreement as a significant milestone in the relationship between the Fire Service and a sister agency, assuring that the FFS would deploy its capacity to protect Customs personnel and assets.
In a separate engagement with Unilever Nigeria PLC, Adeniyi said the partnership demonstrated the Customs Service’s commitment to deeper collaboration with the private sector in tackling challenges affecting trade and industrial development.
He said the agreement would strengthen cooperation in the prevention of counterfeiting, intelligence sharing, and the identification and verification of suspected counterfeit products.
According to him, the MoU would provide a structured channel for real-time information on trademarks, product identification features, packaging and product samples.
The Customs boss noted that engagements with private-sector stakeholders often provide valuable insights that influence 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 said.
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, noting that more than 70 per cent of its raw materials had been localised and that the company supports about 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.
He commended the NCS for its transformation, particularly its digitalisation initiatives, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and other measures aimed at facilitating legitimate trade.
Tobi Adeniyi 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 NCS to combat counterfeiting and illicit trade, while expanding the partnership through further engagements across the country.