By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service and African Export-Import Bank have strengthened their partnership to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, with plans to develop one-stop border posts and regional transit systems aimed at boosting intra-African trade.
The renewed commitment was made during a working visit by the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, George Elombi, to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting reviewed the progress of ongoing collaboration between both institutions and explored additional areas of cooperation to improve trade facilitation, strengthen customs administration, and promote seamless cross-border movement of goods across Africa.
Speaking during the engagement, Adeniyi said the partnership was founded on a shared commitment to unlocking Africa’s economic potential through stronger trade among African nations.
According to him, the collaboration has continued to deliver positive outcomes in customs modernisation and trade facilitation, particularly through initiatives designed to harmonise customs procedures and improve regional connectivity.
“We are building a partnership founded on a single conviction that Africa’s best trading partners are within Africa itself, and our prosperity will be built on the trade we conduct within ourselves.
From C-PACT to our ongoing work on trade facilitation, we are turning that conviction into practical cooperation,” he said.
The Customs boss disclosed that the partnership would support Afreximbank’s regional transit initiatives, fast-track the establishment of one-stop border posts along strategic trade corridors, and promote the adoption of global best practices in customs administration.
He added that the Nigeria Customs Service was already recording positive results from the Bank’s support for regional transit systems, expressing confidence that the collaboration would further enhance Africa’s competitiveness and expand opportunities for legitimate trade.
In his remarks, Elombi commended the proactive leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service, describing its approach as evidence of strong institutional commitment to transforming trade across the continent.
“It is nice to see the CGC taking the initiative to drive this kind of engagement, which demonstrates a clear commitment to transforming trade across the continent. We have the resources, and you have the will.
Together, we can make this partnership work for Africa,” he said.
He reaffirmed Afreximbank’s readiness to expand support for initiatives that facilitate trade and strengthen the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The meeting also reviewed the successful maiden edition of the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT), held in Abuja in November 2025, which brought together customs administrations, development partners and private sector stakeholders to harmonise customs procedures, strengthen institutional capacity and improve connectivity across Africa’s trading systems.
