Nigeria, UK Customs Move To Finalise Trade Cooperation Agreement

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the United Kingdom’s His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are moving towards concluding a Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement (CMAA) aimed at strengthening cooperation on trade, compliance and information sharing.

The proposed agreement, which has been under negotiation for about six months, is expected to establish a formal framework for the exchange of customs information and intelligence between both countries.

It is also expected to strengthen compliance measures and support the facilitation of legitimate trade between Nigeria and the UK.

The development followed a two-day high-level meeting between officials of the NCS and HMRC at the Customs headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, from September 25 to 26, 2026.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the meeting, Assistant Comptroller-General Nafi’u Isyaku, who oversees the Strategic, Research and Policy Department, said the physical engagement was organised to resolve outstanding issues before the agreement is signed.

Isyaku said negotiations had been conducted virtually for six months but both administrations considered a physical meeting necessary to move the process towards completion.

He said the agreement was expected to be signed in the first week of December during the World Customs Organisation Policy Commission meeting, subject to the completion of the remaining processes.

Senior Policy Adviser at HMRC, Syed Moinuddin, said the meeting provided an opportunity for both customs administrations to address areas of mutual interest and develop a framework for stronger cooperation within the international customs community.

Louisa Bentley, Head of Bilateral Relations and Agreements at HMRC, also described the negotiations as successful and said the two sides were close to finalising the agreement.

According to Bentley, the proposed pact would enhance compliance and information sharing while creating better conditions for trade facilitation and greater participation by Nigeria and the UK in global trade opportunities.

The HMRC delegation also inspected key facilities at the NCS headquarters, including the Trade Modernisation Project Limited office, the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report office and the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network station.

Bentley commended the NCS for its ongoing reforms, particularly its deployment of technology and investment in personnel development.

She said the initiatives demonstrated progress towards more modern and efficient customs operations.

The engagement concluded with a tour of other departments and operational units, which gave the British delegation an opportunity to observe ongoing reforms and technological innovations within the Nigeria Customs Service.