Nigeria Customs, Afreximbank Deepen Partnership to Boost Cross-Border Trade

Nigeria's Customs Service (NCS) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have renewed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and promoting seamless cross-border trade. The goal is to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The renewed commitment was highlighted during a working visit by Afreximbank President Dr. George Elombi to Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja. The meeting focused on reviewing current collaborations and exploring new measures to improve trade facilitation, enhance customs cooperation, remove trade barriers, and deepen regional economic integration.

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the partnership as one driven by a shared vision of unlocking Africa’s economic potential through increased trade among African countries.

Adeniyi described the partnership as driven by a shared vision to unlock Africa's economic potential through increased intra-African trade. He noted that the collaboration has already yielded positive results in customs modernization and trade facilitation, particularly through initiatives harmonizing customs procedures and improving the movement of goods across the continent. He emphasized that Africa's greatest trading opportunities lie within the continent, and regional prosperity depends on expanding intra-African trade.

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the collaboration would support Afreximbank’s regional transit initiatives, accelerate the development of one-stop border posts along key trade corridors and promote the adoption of international best practices in customs administration.

The partnership will support Afreximbank's regional transit initiatives, speed up the development of one-stop border posts, and promote international best practices in customs administration. Adeniyi expressed confidence that the collaboration will further enhance Africa's competitiveness and expand opportunities for legitimate trade.

Dr. Elombi commended the Customs Service for its proactive leadership and commitment to advancing trade across Africa. He reaffirmed Afreximbank's readiness to expand its support for initiatives that facilitate trade and strengthen AfCFTA implementation. The meeting also reviewed the successful collaboration during the first Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) conference in Abuja, which brought together customs administrations, development partners, and private sector stakeholders.

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the Service’s efforts demonstrated a strong institutional commitment to transforming continental trade and reaffirmed the bank’s readiness to expand its support for initiatives that facilitate trade and strengthen the implementation of the AfCFTA.