The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and UK International Development, is strengthening its internal anti-corruption framework through a workshop focused on corruption risk analysis, risk mapping and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The initiative is aimed at identifying vulnerabilities within Customs operations, assessing the risks associated with them and developing practical measures to prevent and manage potential cases of corruption.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the workshop on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the exercise as an important step towards strengthening institutional growth, integrity and corruption risk management.
Adeniyi said the exercise was not about finding fault or apportioning blame, but about examining the Service’s processes, identifying weaknesses and developing sustainable solutions.
According to him, the assessment covered key Customs processes, including regulatory and administrative procedures, cargo clearance, inspection and examination, enforcement and compliance, procurement, and 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,” he said.
The Comptroller-General reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to measures that promote transparency, accountability, stronger internal controls, process simplification and the use of technology to reduce unnecessary discretion.
He said a Customs administration that is transparent, predictable and accountable would be better positioned to facilitate legitimate trade, improve compliance and strengthen public confidence.
The WCO Lead Technical Expert for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, Arman Zhalitov, commended Adeniyi for his continued support and urged the workshop’s working group to secure the endorsement of its outcomes.
He said the outcomes included a comprehensive action plan outlining clear steps to advance trade facilitation and strengthen the anti-corruption agenda.
Also speaking, the WCO Programme Manager for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, David Tanenbaum, highlighted achievements in areas such as Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), post-clearance audit and the time-release study.
Tanenbaum noted that integrity was closely linked to these reforms, saying the achievements demonstrated that the partnership was producing tangible institutional and operational results.
“Our work continues to bring us closer to a systematic, preventive approach to identifying and managing corruption risks within customs operations,” he said.