The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS and the African Export-Import Bank, Afreximbank have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration to facilitate intra-African trade, strengthen customs cooperation and accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The renewed commitment was made during a working visit by the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, George Elombi, to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting provided both institutions with an opportunity to review the progress of their existing partnership and identify new areas of cooperation aimed at promoting seamless cross-border trade and regional economic integration.
Speaking during the meeting, Adeniyi described the partnership as one driven by a shared commitment to unlocking Africa’s economic potential through increased trade among African countries.
He said the collaboration had already produced positive outcomes in customs modernisation and trade facilitation through initiatives designed to harmonise customs procedures and improve the movement of goods across the continent.
“We are building a partnership founded on a single conviction that Africa’s best trading partners are within Africa itself, and our prosperity will be built on the trade we conduct within ourselves,” he said.
The Customs boss disclosed that the partnership would support Afreximbank’s regional transit initiatives, accelerate the development of one-stop border posts along major trade corridors and encourage the adoption of global best practices in customs administration.
According to him, the Service is already benefiting from the bank’s support for regional transit systems and expects the collaboration to further improve Africa’s competitiveness while creating more opportunities for legitimate trade.
In his remarks, Elombi commended the Nigeria Customs Service for demonstrating strong institutional leadership in advancing trade facilitation across the continent.
He said the Service’s proactive approach reflected a clear commitment to transforming trade in Africa.
“It is nice to see the Comptroller-General taking the initiative to drive this kind of engagement. We have the resources, and you have the will. Together, we can make this partnership work for Africa,” he said.
Elombi also reaffirmed Afreximbank’s readiness to expand its support for initiatives that promote trade facilitation and strengthen the implementation of the AfCFTA.
The meeting also reviewed the outcome of the inaugural Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT), held in Abuja in November 2025.
