The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening strategic cooperation with the Indian Customs Administration, as both sides advanced discussions on key customs issues on the margins of the 92nd Session of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Policy Commission on 25 June 2025 in Brussels, Belgium.

Led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Nigerian delegation met with Mr Surjit Bhujbal, a senior member of India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), to evaluate progress made under the Customs Mutual Administrative Agreement (CMAA) signed between both countries on 16 November 2024.

The bilateral engagement focused on enhancing cooperation in customs valuation, transfer pricing, and ongoing conversations around the integration of customs and tax systems — key areas identified in the CMAA. The meeting also addressed growing concerns over the international trade in substandard pharmaceutical products, with both countries acknowledging recent successful seizures in Nigeria as a direct result of improved intelligence sharing and operational synergy.

According to CGC Adewale Adeniyi, “Today’s dialogue is a continuation of the strong foundations laid during the signing of the CMAA in November 2024. We are intensifying efforts to tackle undervaluation, abusive transfer pricing, and to improve system integration between customs and tax authorities. Additionally, our joint actions in curbing the importation of substandard pharmaceuticals yield results and protect public health.”

The CGC further reiterated Nigeria’s interest in expanding cooperation through joint technical missions, training programmes, and shared data mechanisms, which would contribute to more efficient risk management, enhanced revenue assurance, and stronger trade controls.

“This partnership reflects our vision of a smarter, collaborative, and globally connected customs administration,” Adeniyi said.

The CMAA was signed during the Prime Minister of India’s state visit to Nigeria last year, a landmark moment that underscored both countries’ commitment to advancing trade, security, and institutional collaboration.

In his remarks, Mr Surjit Bhujbal said, “India regards Nigeria as a crucial partner in Africa. The CMAA has opened a structured channel for mutual assistance, information exchange, and capacity building. We are keen to deepen technical cooperation on valuation, combat revenue leakage through transfer pricing schemes, and share our experience integrating customs with tax systems.”

The WCO Policy Commission is a high-level platform where customs leaders worldwide deliberate on policy direction, global trade facilitation, and enforcement standards. Nigeria’s active participation highlights its dedication to international best practices and the modernisation of its customs systems.

The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has approved the sum of N1.132 trillion as the proposed 2025 budget of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), marking a significant step forward in the Service’s commitment to enhancing national revenue, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling.

The budget proposal, presented on Monday, 23 June 2025, by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, represented by Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services, DCG Mohammed Jibo, was favourably received and adopted by the committee.

According to the Comptroller-General, the NCS has an ambitious revenue target of N6.584 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year. This includes N3.853 trillion for the Federation Account, N1.081 trillion for the Non-Federation Account, and N1.650 trillion from Import Value Added Tax (VAT).

Adeniyi explained that the projected revenue will be drawn from legitimate sources, including 4% of Free-On-Board (FOB) value, totalling N1.070 trillion, the 2% VAT share accruing to the NCS, estimated at N33.01 billion, and N29.05 billion earmarked for ongoing capital projects.

In terms of expenditure, the proposed budget allocates N247.16 billion for personnel costs, N239.97 billion for overheads, and N645.42 billion for capital projects. According to him, the allocations underscore the NCS’s drive to improve operational capacity and infrastructure for more effective service delivery.

At the end of the sitting, the NCS reaffirmed its commitment to legislative compliance and fiscal transparency. The Service further expressed appreciation for the continued support of the National Assembly and reaffirmed that it would work closely with relevant authorities to ensure its operations remain within the ambit of the law, while also exploring legally sustainable avenues for funding its critical reform and modernisation initiatives.

Stakeholders from the Civic space and government actors have called for legislative reforms that would remove every regulatory hurdle and improve efficient operations of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs in Nigeria.