By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigeria Customs Service and the American Business Council have agreed to expand structured engagement to improve trade facilitation and boost investor confidence.
This understanding followed a courtesy visit by a delegation of the American Business Council to the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, where they were received on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
While welcoming the visitors, Adeniyi said the Service has taken deliberate steps in recent years to entrench transparency, stakeholder consultation and consistent interaction with private sector operators.
He stressed the importance of collaboration between Customs and business communities that operate through Nigeria’s ports and borders.
“No modern Customs administration can thrive without meaningful dialogue with the people who drive business across our ports and borders,” he said.
The Comptroller-General explained that Customs reforms now focus on creating predictability for traders. He pointed to the rollout of the One-Stop-Shop initiative in major commands, which he said has simplified procedures and reduced delays linked to cargo examination and documentation.
Addressing concerns raised by member companies of the Council, Adeniyi assured the delegation that the Service would continue to tackle operational challenges within its statutory powers. He noted that trade facilitation involves several government agencies and said continuous engagement remains vital for resolving issues promptly.
Earlier in her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the American Business Council, Margaret Olele, said the visit was intended to strengthen the relationship between the Council and the Nigeria Customs Service.
She commended Customs for what she described as “clear improvements in port processes, communication channels and the ease of resolving trade-related enquiries.”
Olele said several American firms operating in Nigeria have observed clearer Customs procedures over the past year. According to her, “Predictability and transparency are essential for businesses. We are encouraged by the modernisation steps taken under the legal framework of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, and we look forward to deepening this partnership to address remaining concerns.”
She also thanked the Comptroller-General for personally hosting the delegation, describing his engagement as a strong signal of Customs’ commitment to collaboration. Olele added that closer cooperation between Customs and the private sector would help to further improve Nigeria’s investment environment.
At the end of the meeting, both parties agreed to institute quarterly engagement sessions. The sessions will review progress, address emerging concerns and sustain open communication for American companies operating in Nigeria.
Representatives of ExxonMobil, Chevron, Cisco, Mantrac and the United States Embassy, among others, attended the meeting.