Customs, American Business Council Strengthen Collaboration to Enhance Trade Facilitation

As Customs, NMDPRA tighten ropes on fuel diversion 

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has received a delegation of the American Business Council (ABC) on a courtesy visit to the Customs House, Maitama, Abuja, with both sides agreeing to deepen structured engagements aimed at improving trade facilitation and strengthening investor confidence.

Welcoming the delegation last week, CGC Adeniyi said the Nigeria Customs Service has, in recent years, made deliberate efforts to institutionalise transparency, stakeholder consultation and regular engagement with industry players.
“No modern Customs administration can thrive without meaningful dialogue with the people who drive business across our ports and borders,” he said.

He stated that the Service has prioritised reforms that enhance predictability for traders, including the deployment of the One-Stop-Shop initiative across major commands to streamline processes and reduce delays during cargo examination and documentation.

Responding to concerns raised by ABC member companies, the CGC assured the delegation that Customs will continue to address operational challenges within its mandate. He emphasised that trade facilitation remains a shared responsibility among multiple agencies and underscored the importance of sustained dialogue to resolve issues as they arise.

Speaking earlier, Chief Executive Officer of the American Business Council, Margaret Olele, said the visit was aimed at strengthening ties with the Nigeria Customs Service. She acknowledged what she described as “clear improvements in port processes, communication channels and the ease of resolving trade-related enquiries.”

She added that many American companies operating in Nigeria have reported improved clarity in 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.”

Olele also appreciated the CGC for personally receiving the delegation, noting that his presence demonstrated the Service’s commitment to partnership.
She stressed that enhanced cooperation between Customs and the private sector will significantly strengthen Nigeria’s investment climate.

Both sides later agreed to hold quarterly engagement sessions to review progress, address emerging issues and keep communication channels open for American companies operating in the country.

Representatives from ExxonMobil, Chevron, Cisco, Mantrac, U.S. Embassy among other representatives participated in the meeting.

Meanwhile the  Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) are strengthening their collaboration to combat the diversion of petroleum products intended for domestic use and to safeguard Nigeria’s energy security. 

This renewed partnership, highlighted during a meeting between Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi and NMDPRA Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ogbugo Ukoha on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, at Customs House, Maitama, Abuja.

During the engagement, CGC Adeniyi reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to strengthening interagency cooperation, particularly in safeguarding Nigeria’s domestic energy security and ensuring that petroleum products meant for local consumption are not diverted to neighbouring countries.

He noted that collaboration between both agencies had already produced measurable results, especially through Operation Whirlwind, which he described as a model for intelligence sharing, joint enforcement and coordinated field operations.

CGC Adeniyi said the Nigeria Customs Service remains fully aligned with ongoing reforms in the petroleum regulatory space and will continue to provide technical input, operational feedback and border management expertise to support the implementation of new guidelines being developed by the NMDPRA.

He commended the Authority for its efforts to harmonise legacy processes with the Petroleum Industry Act, stressing that clear and efficient export point procedures are essential as Nigeria moves from being a net importer to an emerging exporter of petroleum products.

“We welcome every initiative that strengthens energy security and ensures that the gains made in reducing cross border diversion are not reversed. Our shared responsibility is to protect national interest, support legitimate trade and maintain a transparent system that stakeholders can rely on. We will continue to work closely with sister agencies to achieve these outcomes,” he stated.

In his remarks, the Executive Director, Ukoha, said the NMDPRA enjoys a longstanding and productive working relationship with the Nigeria Customs Service, noting that Operation Whirlwind remained the high point of that collaboration.

He explained that both agencies deployed personnel, exchanged intelligence and jointly monitored petroleum products in border corridors, leading to a marked reduction in cross border diversion.

Ukoha said the purpose of the visit was to brief the CGC on newly developed guidelines for designating export points for petroleum products as Nigeria’s refining capacity expands.

He said the NMDPRA is engaging key institutions, including Customs, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Nigerian Navy, to ensure the guidelines reflect operational realities before implementation.

He recalled several field operations and strategic engagements with the Customs leadership, including the joint launch of Operation Whirlwind in Yola, where both agencies reinforced their commitment to curbing diversion and securing the domestic supply chain.

He added that while enforcement had played a major role in reducing irregular movements of petroleum products, the removal of fuel subsidy had significantly reduced the economic incentive for cross border smuggling.

According to him, the NMDPRA will continue to work closely with the Customs Service to sustain progress and ensure that petroleum exports are properly regulated without exposing the country to energy security risks.

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