Nigeria and the UK are deepening customs collaboration under the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), agreeing to explore new digital frameworks aimed at improving data reconciliation, risk management, and compliance across the trade corridor.
The announcement came during a high-level bilateral meeting in London on Wednesday, held on the sidelines of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the UK. The engagement was led by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Head of International Customs and Border Engagement Megan Shaw.
The NCS National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, said the discussions focused on modernising customs processes, enhancing transparency in trade flows, and expanding operational cooperation between both administrations.
The meeting also highlighted existing gaps in trade data. While the UK reported exports to Nigeria valued at £1.7 billion in 2024, Nigerian records showed imports from the UK at just £504 million. Both sides agreed that these discrepancies require coordinated action, and the proposed pre-arrival data exchange system could help address the issue.
Speaking further, Comptroller-General Adeniyi emphasized that effective customs collaboration is vital for secure, transparent, and mutually beneficial trade. He noted that Nigeria and the UK share a long-standing economic relationship spanning industrial goods, agriculture, energy, and consumer products.
The engagement produced key outcomes, including plans for a Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Framework, technical scoping for knowledge exchange, and the establishment of a joint technical engagement mechanism under ETIP.
The NCS reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging international partnerships as part of its broader modernisation agenda, aimed at improving trade facilitation, operational efficiency, and competitiveness in Nigeria’s trading environment.
