Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening international cooperation, trade facilitation, and diplomatic engagement through a high-level cocktail reception hosted for members of the diplomatic community in Abuja.
The event, held at the rooftop of the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, brought together ambassadors, high commissioners, heads of diplomatic missions, senior government officials, and top security chiefs, including the Chief of the Air Staff and the Inspector-General of Police.
Speaking at the gathering, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, expressed appreciation to Nigeria’s international partners for their continued collaboration in advancing trade, security, and diplomatic relations.
“We deeply value the support and partnership of the diplomatic community in strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations. The Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to providing the necessary support and services that enable diplomatic missions to operate effectively while fostering an environment that promotes international trade and economic growth,” Adeniyi stated.
The Customs boss highlighted the Service’s growing global engagement, revealing that the NCS currently maintains structured cooperation frameworks with more than 20 customs administrations across the world. According to him, these partnerships are focused on knowledge sharing, capacity building, intelligence exchange, and operational collaboration aimed at enhancing customs efficiency and border management.
Adeniyi stressed that in an increasingly interconnected global economy, stronger cooperation among customs administrations, diplomatic missions, and security institutions has become indispensable.
“The challenges and opportunities of modern trade demand continuous engagement, mutual trust, and shared responsibility. Through collaboration, we can strengthen border security, facilitate legitimate trade, improve revenue collection, and enhance our collective economic competitiveness,” he said.
He noted that platforms such as the diplomatic reception provide valuable opportunities for dialogue, relationship-building, and the exploration of new areas of cooperation that can further deepen Nigeria’s trade and diplomatic architecture.
The evening featured goodwill messages and networking sessions, with participants commending the Nigeria Customs Service for its proactive efforts in building stronger institutional partnerships and promoting an enabling environment for international collaboration, trade development, and economic prosperity.
The reception further underscored the NCS’s strategic vision of positioning Customs as a key driver of trade facilitation, economic growth, and international cooperation in line with global best practices.