Customs, WCO Strengthen Anti-Corruption Framework
By Onu Okorie

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the United Kingdom International Development, has intensified efforts to strengthen its internal anti-corruption framework through a workshop on corruption risk analysis, risk mapping and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the workshop on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the WCO-supported mission as an important step towards strengthening institutional growth, integrity and corruption risk management within the Service.
Adeniyi stressed that the exercise was not intended to find fault or apportion blame, but to enable the Customs administration to critically examine its processes, identify vulnerabilities and develop sustainable solutions.
According to him, the assessment covered critical Customs operations, including regulatory and administrative procedures, cargo clearance, inspection and examination, enforcement and compliance, procurement, as well as human resource management.
“The purpose of what we have therefore been doing with our partners was to identify such areas of vulnerabilities, assess the associated risk and develop practical measures to mitigate them,” the CGC said.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the NCS to measures that promote transparency, accountability, stronger internal controls and process simplification, while expanding the use of technology to reduce unnecessary discretion in Customs operations.
The CGC noted that a transparent and predictable Customs administration would be better positioned to facilitate legitimate trade, improve compliance and strengthen public confidence in the Service.
The WCO Lead Technical Expert, Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, Arman Zhalitov, commended Adeniyi for his continued support for the initiative and urged members of the working group to champion the endorsement and implementation of the workshop outcomes.
He said the outcomes included a comprehensive action plan containing clear steps to advance trade facilitation and strengthen the anti-corruption agenda of the NCS.
Also speaking, WCO Programme Manager for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, David Tanenbaum, highlighted progress recorded in areas including Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), post-clearance audit and the time-release study.
Tanenbaum stressed that integrity could not be treated in isolation, noting that the reforms were contributing to broader institutional and operational improvements within the Customs Service.
“Our work continues to bring us closer to a systematic, preventive approach to identifying and managing corruption risks within customs operations,” he said.
The workshop is expected to strengthen the Service’s capacity to identify corruption vulnerabilities before they materialise, while promoting preventive controls and more efficient Customs procedures.
The collaboration between the NCS and its international partners is also aimed at supporting a more predictable trading environment, improving compliance and reinforcing public confidence in the administration of Nigeria’s borders and trade processes.