KEY POINTS

• The Nigeria Customs Service will host two conferences in Abuja from December 7 to 11, 2026.
• The meetings will focus on border security, modernising customs operations and making trade across Africa easier.
• Discussions will cover digital systems, cooperation among border agencies and ways to reduce delays for businesses.
• Participants will review progress on trade reforms and initiatives under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
• The conferences are expected to produce practical recommendations for connecting border systems and improving cross-border trade.

MAIN STORY

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will host two conferences in Abuja in December to strengthen border security, improve customs operations and make trade between African countries easier.

NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada announced the plans in a statement on Sunday, saying the meetings form part of efforts to protect communities while helping legitimate businesses move goods across borders.

The Comptroller-General of Customs Conference will take place from December 7 to 8, followed by the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) Conference from December 9 to 11.

The first conference, themed Securing Borders, Enabling Trade: A Customs Commitment to Safer Communities, will review the service’s modernisation efforts and assess progress on commitments made in 2025 and results recorded in 2026.

According to Maiwada, participants will examine how customs operations can protect national security while allowing businesses to move goods through the country more efficiently.

The programme will include presentations on customs reforms, the presentation of Authorised Economic Operator certificates and discussions on how to measure the effects of reforms on trade and government revenue.

The conference will also examine how intelligence can help officers identify security threats, improve cooperation among government agencies and respond to emerging risks along Nigeria’s borders. Discussions will cover officers’ professional responsibilities, the use of digital technology and ways to strengthen public trust.

The second conference, C-PACT, will focus on improving trade between African countries through better coordination at border crossings and connected digital systems.

Its theme, One Border, Interconnected Systems: Advancing Customs Cooperation through One-Stop Border Posts, reflects efforts to reduce the delays and extra costs businesses face when moving goods between countries.

Maiwada said participants would discuss problems such as repeated inspections, different procedures across borders, limited sharing of information and computer systems that cannot easily exchange data. Poor coordination among border agencies will also be addressed.

One proposed solution is the use of One-Stop Border Posts, where officials from neighbouring countries coordinate border checks at a shared location rather than requiring traders to complete separate processes at different checkpoints. Supported by connected digital systems and common procedures, this approach could reduce delays and make the movement of goods more predictable.

Participants will also review trade initiatives under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), including the Integrated Transit System, Single Bond Guarantee Scheme and Electronic Certificate of Origin system.

These initiatives are intended to improve how goods move across borders, simplify the handling of transit requirements and make it easier to verify the origin of products traded between African countries.

Maiwada said the discussions would seek practical recommendations, identify priority areas for technology and investment, and strengthen partnerships among institutions. The conference is also expected to produce a plan for connecting border systems and expanding the use of digital tools across Africa.

He added that the Comptroller-General of Customs and the service’s management remained committed to working with Nigerian institutions, regional partners and international stakeholders to protect borders and support African economic integration.

THE ISSUES

For businesses trading across Africa, border delays can mean higher transport costs, late deliveries and money tied up in goods waiting for clearance. When countries require different documents or repeat the same checks, traders face additional work and uncertainty.

Coordinated border posts and connected digital systems could reduce some of these problems by allowing agencies to share information and carry out checks more efficiently. However, the benefits will depend on whether participating countries adopt compatible procedures, invest in the required technology and work together consistently.

Nigeria also faces the challenge of balancing trade facilitation with security. Faster clearance must not come at the expense of checks needed to prevent smuggling, illegal trade and other cross-border threats.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“It will assess progress against previous commitments and reinforce the relationship between effective Customs administration, national security, and trade facilitation,” – Abdullahi Maiwada, NCS spokesperson.

“Through the CGC Conference and C-PACT 2026, the service seeks to reinforce accountability for ongoing reforms while advancing practical solutions that connect border security with trade facilitation, technological innovation and safer communities,” – Abdullahi Maiwada, NCS spokesperson.

WHAT’S NEXT

The conferences are scheduled for December 7 to 11 in Abuja. Their outcomes will show which reforms the NCS and its partners intend to prioritise, particularly in digital connectivity, coordinated border checks and implementation of AfCFTA trade initiatives.

The key measure will be whether the discussions lead to practical changes that reduce unnecessary delays and costs for businesses while maintaining effective border security.

BOTTOM LINE

The NCS wants stronger border security and smoother trade to work together. If the proposed cooperation and digital reforms are implemented effectively, Nigerian businesses could face fewer delays and lower costs when trading across African borders.