Customs, Afreximbank deepen partnership to boost cross-border trade
By Godwin Oritse
ABUJA — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation aimed at promoting seamless cross-border trade and accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The renewed commitment was highlighted during a working visit by the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Dr. George Elombi, to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting reviewed ongoing areas of collaboration and explored additional measures to improve trade facilitation, enhance customs cooperation, remove barriers to cross-border trade and deepen regional economic integration.
Welcoming the Afreximbank delegation, Adeniyi described the partnership as one driven by a shared vision of unlocking Africa’s economic potential through increased trade among African countries.
He said the collaboration had already delivered positive results in customs modernisation and trade facilitation, particularly through initiatives aimed at harmonising customs procedures and improving the movement of goods across the continent.
According to him, the partnership reflects the belief that Africa’s greatest trading opportunities lie within the continent and that regional prosperity depends on expanding intra-African trade.
Adeniyi disclosed that the collaboration would support Afreximbank’s regional transit initiatives, accelerate the development of one-stop border posts along key trade corridors and promote the adoption of international best practices in customs administration.
He added that the Nigeria Customs Service was already benefiting from the bank’s support for regional transit systems and expressed confidence that the partnership would further enhance Africa’s competitiveness and expand opportunities for legitimate trade.
Speaking during the visit, Afreximbank President Dr. George Elombi commended the Customs Service for its proactive leadership and commitment to advancing trade across Africa.
He said the Service’s efforts demonstrated a strong institutional commitment to transforming continental trade and reaffirmed the bank’s readiness to expand its support for initiatives that facilitate trade and strengthen the implementation of the AfCFTA.
The meeting also reviewed the successful collaboration between both institutions during the maiden edition of the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT), held in Abuja in November 2025.
The conference brought together customs administrations, development partners and private sector stakeholders to promote harmonised customs procedures, strengthen institutional capacity and improve connectivity across Africa’s trading systems.
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