The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is set to host two major conferences in Abuja in December 2026 to strengthen border security, facilitate legitimate trade and advance economic integration across Africa.
The conferences, comprising the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Conference scheduled for December 7–8 and the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) 2026 Conference holding from December 9–11, will bring together government officials, Customs administrations, policymakers, trade stakeholders and international partners.
In a statement, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, said the CGC Conference would be held under the theme, “Securing Borders, Enabling Trade: A Customs Commitment to Safer Communities.”
The conference will assess the Service's modernisation efforts, review commitments made in 2025 and evaluate progress recorded in 2026, with particular attention to digital Customs operations, trade facilitation, intelligence-led enforcement and inter-agency collaboration.
It will also feature discussions on the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, seamless payments, trusted trade corridors and the role of partnerships in improving revenue generation and securing Nigeria's borders.
The second day will focus on coordinated responses to emerging border threats, with participation expected from security and enforcement institutions, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the NCS, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
The continental C-PACT 2026 Conference, themed “One Border, Interconnected Systems: Advancing Customs Cooperation through One-Stop Border Posts,” will focus on strengthening cooperation among African Customs administrations and improving cross-border trade through digital connectivity and coordinated border management.
According to the statement, discussions will address challenges such as duplicated border controls, fragmented procedures, limited information exchange and incompatible digital systems, which continue to increase the cost and delay of cross-border transactions.
The conference will also examine the implementation of key African Continental Free Trade Area initiatives, including the AfCFTA Integrated Transit System, Single Bond Guarantee Scheme and Electronic Certificate of Origin system.
Expected outcomes include practical recommendations, technology and investment opportunities, stronger institutional partnerships and an implementation roadmap for interconnected and digitally enabled border systems across Africa.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the Service remained committed to strengthening collaboration with national institutions, regional partners and international stakeholders to secure borders, facilitate legitimate trade and support Africa's economic integration agenda.
