By ebosele@hotmail.com –
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reinforced its commitment to digital modernisation as a catalyst for trade facilitation and economic growth, following the conclusion of a two-day high-level management workshop focused on reforming Customs operations and eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks.
City Business News reports that the workshop, organised in partnership with Reverso Business Services Limited and held from 22 to 23 January 2026, formed part of the Service’s ongoing reform agenda aimed at leveraging technology to streamline trade processes across Nigeria’s trade corridors.
Under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the NCS has prioritised automation, innovation and capacity building as key pillars for aligning its operations with global best practices and improving the ease of doing business in the country.
The final day of the engagement centred on emerging global trade trends, digital transformation and the evolving role of modern Customs administrations. Senior officers engaged in in-depth discussions on deploying technology-driven solutions, improving operational efficiency and strengthening collaboration with stakeholders to ensure faster, transparent and more predictable trade processes.
Speaking at the session, Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi highlighted the inevitability of change in the global trade ecosystem, noting that Customs administrations must continuously adapt through technology and innovation to remain effective.
“Our environment will continue to be very dynamic. What will not change, however, is Nigeria’s expectation that Customs will contribute meaningfully to economic prosperity, public health and national security. When these elements come together, we are better positioned to facilitate trade,” Adeniyi said.
He stressed that the Service’s digital transformation is a deliberate strategy to build a modern, technology-driven Customs administration that is accountable, responsive and performance-oriented.
“These are standards we voluntarily hold ourselves to. We want to be that reference organisation, responsive to our commitments and obligations and supportive of government efforts to create an environment where the economy can prosper,” he added.
In his remarks, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Reverso Business Services Limited, Ayokunnu Ojeniyi, praised the NCS for embracing innovation and continuous improvement, stressing that digital modernisation is no longer optional in today’s fast-changing trade environment.
“If you don’t take change by the hand, it will seize you by the throat. The environment is changing, and Customs must continue to manage that change proactively,” Ojeniyi said, urging participants to convert insights from the workshop into practical, technology-enabled improvements across all formations.
The workshop aligns with the Nigeria Customs Service’s broader modernisation programme, which includes process automation, data-driven decision-making, enhanced stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships aimed at improving service delivery, transparency and overall trade efficiency.
