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By Stella Odueme
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has partnered with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the United Kingdom International Development to strengthen its internal anti-corruption framework through corruption risk mapping and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The initiative was examined at a workshop on corruption risk analysis, risk mapping and the development of SOPs, which concluded on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the WCO-supported exercise as an important step towards strengthening institutional integrity, growth and corruption risk management within the Service.
Adeniyi said the exercise was not designed to find fault or apportion blame, but to enable the Service to identify weaknesses within its processes and develop sustainable measures to address them.
He said the assessment covered critical Customs operations, 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,” the CGC said.
Adeniyi reaffirmed the commitment of the NCS to measures that promote transparency, accountability and stronger internal controls, while simplifying processes and deploying technology to reduce unnecessary discretion.
He noted that a transparent, predictable and accountable Customs administration would be better positioned to facilitate legitimate trade, improve compliance and enhance public confidence.
The WCO Lead Technical Expert for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, Arman Zhalitov, commended the CGC for his continued support and urged the working group to champion the endorsement and implementation of the workshop outcomes.
According to him, the outcomes include a comprehensive action plan outlining specific steps to advance trade facilitation and strengthen the anti-corruption agenda.
Also speaking, WCO Programme Manager for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, David Tanenbaum, highlighted progress recorded in areas including Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), post-clearance audit and the time-release study.
Tanenbaum said the achievements demonstrated that integrity efforts were closely linked to broader institutional and operational reforms.
“Our work continues to bring us closer to a systematic, preventive approach to identifying and managing corruption risks within customs operations,” he said.
The partnership is expected to further strengthen preventive mechanisms within the NCS and improve the efficiency, integrity and predictability of Customs operations.