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) under the Accelerated Revenue Mobilisation Reform (ARMOR) Programme to strengthen compliance management, revenue assurance and trade facilitation.
The workshop, which runs from June 1 to June 12, 2026, is being held at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, Assistant Comptroller-General Babatunde Olomu described the mission as a major step in advancing the Service’s modernisation agenda and enhancing its capacity as a technology-driven, intelligence-led and globally competitive customs administration.
Olomu noted that modern customs administrations increasingly rely on intelligence-led, risk-based and post-clearance interventions that encourage voluntary compliance while supporting legitimate trade and economic growth.
He said the mission would provide an opportunity to evaluate existing processes, identify operational gaps, adopt international best practices and develop practical solutions to strengthen the Post Clearance Audit framework.
According to him, key focus areas of the programme 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,” Olomu said.
He commended the Comptroller-General for prioritising modernisation and capacity development, while also acknowledging the World Bank and other development partners for their continued support of customs reforms.
Olomu urged participants to actively engage throughout the programme and ensure that lessons learned translate into measurable improvements in operational performance.
Also speaking, 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 internationally recognised methodologies.
He said participants would gain insights into global best practices, case management techniques and compliance strategies that could be adapted to Nigeria’s customs environment.
Kajubi emphasised the importance of technology, structured case management systems and data-driven decision-making in improving 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.
Lead Consultant for the ARMOR Programme, Colonel Aloke Dutt, said the initiative aims to enhance trade facilitation, optimise revenue generation and improve compliance management through a more structured and unified Post Clearance Audit system.
He stressed the need for standardised audit methodologies, effective monitoring mechanisms and the integration of data analytics into audit processes to improve accountability and operational efficiency.
Dutt also highlighted the importance of leveraging technology-driven solutions such as the B’Odogwu platform and developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to support a competency-based audit framework across the Service.
During a technical session, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Muhammad Jubril demonstrated the Post Clearance Audit process on the B’Odogwu platform, explaining how officers can initiate audit reviews using Harmonised Commodity codes and other risk indicators.
Closing the session, Comptroller Muhammad Shattima encouraged participants to maximise the opportunities provided by the workshop and apply the knowledge gained towards achieving the strategic objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts by the NCS to strengthen institutional capacity, improve compliance management and advance its modernisation programme in line with global customs standards.
