By Uloma Peace Okorie
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is stepping up efforts to secure Nigeria’s borders, dismantle barriers to legitimate trade and accelerate Africa’s economic integration as it prepares to host two major conferences in Abuja this December, bringing together security agencies, policymakers and trade leaders to advance smarter border management and seamless cross-border commerce.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Conference will hold from December 7 to 8, 2026, while the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) 2026 Conference is scheduled for December 9 to 11.
According to a press release signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD, the conferences will provide platforms for reviewing ongoing reforms, strengthening institutional partnerships and exploring innovative solutions to border management challenges.
The CGC Conference, themed “Securing Borders, Enabling Trade: A Customs Commitment to Safer Communities,” will examine the relationship between effective Customs administration, national security and trade facilitation.
Discussions will focus on digital Customs operations, trusted trade corridors, seamless payments, intelligence-led enforcement and collaboration among security agencies to address emerging threats.
The conference will also review commitments made in 2025 and assess the progress recorded in 2026, alongside presentations on Customs modernisation, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and the impact of reforms on trade and revenue generation.
A major highlight will be discussions on how digital transformation and stakeholder collaboration can improve operational efficiency, reduce trade barriers and strengthen public confidence in Customs administration.
Stakeholders expected to participate include the National Single Window Secretariat, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), AEO beneficiaries and representatives of the excise sector.
The second day will focus on coordinated responses to border threats, with participation from the Office of the National Security Adviser, the NCS, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
C-PACT 2026 to Drive African Trade Integration
Building on the national conference, C-PACT 2026 will extend the discussions to the continental level under the theme: “One Border, Interconnected Systems: Advancing Customs Cooperation through One-Stop Border Posts.”
The conference will bring together African Customs administrations, policymakers, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, technology providers and private-sector stakeholders.
Participants will explore practical ways to address persistent challenges affecting cross-border trade, including duplicated inspections, fragmented procedures, limited information exchange and incompatible digital systems.
Particular attention will be given to One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs), which are designed to improve coordination among border agencies, reduce delays, lower trade costs and facilitate the movement of goods across African trade corridors.
The programme will feature high-level policy discussions, technical sessions, technology demonstrations and presentations on experiences from existing and emerging One-Stop Border Posts.
It will also examine the implementation of key AfCFTA initiatives, including the AfCFTA Integrated Transit System, the Single Bond Guarantee Scheme and the Electronic Certificate of Origin system.
The organisers expect the conference to produce practical recommendations, identify investment opportunities, strengthen institutional partnerships and develop an implementation roadmap for interconnected and digitally enabled border systems across Africa.
The Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, reaffirmed its commitment to working with national institutions, regional partners and international stakeholders to strengthen border security and support Africa’s economic integration agenda.
The two conferences are expected to reinforce accountability in Customs reforms while promoting solutions that connect effective border security with trade facilitation, technological innovation and safer communities.
Ultimately, the initiative seeks to support the AfCFTA’s vision of a more integrated, competitive and prosperous African market.
