The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, in partnership with the World Bank Group, has commenced a two-week Technical Assistance Mission on Post Clearance Audit, PCA aimed at strengthening compliance management, revenue assurance and trade facilitation through modern audit practices.
The programme, being implemented under the World Bank-supported Accelerated Revenue Mobilisation Reform, ARMOR Programme, began on June 1 and will run until June 12, 2026, at the Service’s headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
Speaking at the opening session on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Babatunde Olomu, described the mission as a critical step in advancing the Service’s modernisation agenda and strengthening its capacity as a technology-driven and intelligence-led customs administration.
Olomu noted that modern customs operations increasingly depend on intelligence-based, risk-focused and post-clearance interventions that encourage voluntary compliance while facilitating legitimate trade and supporting economic growth.
According to him, the mission provides an opportunity to evaluate existing procedures, identify operational gaps, adopt international best practices and develop practical solutions to improve the Post Clearance Audit framework.
He identified key focus areas of the programme to include risk-based targeting, case management, registry management, quality assurance, standardisation and integrated audit systems.
“Effective Post Clearance Audit enables Customs to move beyond transaction-based controls to a strategic compliance management approach that enhances revenue assurance, facilitates legitimate trade, strengthens transparency and boosts public confidence,” he said.
Olomu also commended the Comptroller-General for prioritising modernisation and capacity development, while appreciating the World Bank and other development partners for their continued support towards Customs reforms.
Speaking at the workshop, World Bank Task Team Lead, Moses Kajubi, said the mission was designed to strengthen the capacity of Post Clearance Audit officers through exposure to modern customs practices, practical audit tools and globally recognised methodologies.
Kajubi explained that participants would be trained on international best practices, case management techniques and compliance strategies that can be adapted to Nigeria’s operational environment.
He stressed the importance of leveraging technology, structured case management systems and data-driven decision-making to improve audit quality, compliance monitoring and trade facilitation outcomes.
“This engagement will equip participants with practical tools and global best practices that can be applied directly in the field to improve the effectiveness of Post Clearance Audit operations,” he said.
Also speaking, Lead Consultant for the ARMOR Programme, Aloke Dutt, said the initiative seeks to improve trade facilitation, optimise revenue generation and strengthen compliance management through a more coordinated and structured audit framework.
He highlighted the need for standardised audit methodologies, effective monitoring systems and the integration of data analytics into audit processes to improve accountability and operational efficiency.
Dutt further emphasised the importance of technology-driven solutions, including the Customs B’Odogwu platform, as well as the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to support a competency-based audit system across the Service.
During a technical session, Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Muhammad Jubril, demonstrated the Post Clearance Audit process using the B’Odogwu platform, explaining how officers can initiate audit reviews through Harmonised Commodity Codes and other risk indicators.
In his closing remarks, Comptroller Muhammad Shattima urged participants to take full advantage of the training and apply the knowledge acquired to support the strategic objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The programme forms part of ongoing efforts by the NCS to modernise its operations, strengthen compliance management systems and improve revenue collection while facilitating legitimate trade in line with global customs standards.
