Harboursandport.com: Lagos - June 28,2025: In a significant diplomatic milestone, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS and the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have signed a bilateral agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.
 |
| Nigeria’s Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and Governor Suhail bin Mohammed Abanmi |
The signing took place on Thursday, 26 June 2025, during the 145th/146th Sessions of the Customs Co-operation Council at the World Customs Organization, WCO Headquarters in Brussels.
 |
The agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and Governor Suhail bin Mohammed Abanmi of the Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.
 |
Following the signing, CGC Adeniyi described the agreement as a major advancement in Nigeria’s strategic customs diplomacy and a reaffirmation of the Service’s commitment to cross-border collaboration for secure and efficient trade.
 |
“This agreement provides a strong platform for operational synergy in tackling customs offences, sharing intelligence, and ensuring the fair and accurate application of customs laws,” Adeniyi stated. “It aligns with our broader efforts to modernise Customs, promote transparency, and deepen Nigeria’s integration into the global trade ecosystem.”
The agreement establishes a formal framework for mutual administrative assistance between the two nations in areas such as customs enforcement, classification, valuation, revenue protection, and coordinated border management. It draws from internationally recognised instruments, including the WCO Recommendation on Mutual Administrative Assistance (1953), and other relevant conventions to which both countries are signatories.
“The Service sees this partnership not just as a tool for enforcement, but as a mechanism to drive innovation and trust in customs administration,” Adeniyi added. “Nigeria is proud to join hands with Saudi Arabia in advancing a future where customs operations are smarter, faster, and more cooperative.”
Governor Abanmi echoed this sentiment, describing the agreement as a reflection of shared priorities in trade facilitation and customs efficiency.
“Saudi Arabia welcomes this partnership with Nigeria. Our customs administrations face similar challenges, and through this agreement, we aim to share knowledge, strengthen enforcement, and safeguard our economies from illicit trade,” he said.
Under the terms of the agreement, both parties will collaborate on investigations, data exchange, and the enforcement of prohibitions and restrictions in accordance with their respective national laws. The agreement is of indefinite duration, with provisions for amendment or termination through diplomatic channels.
No comments:
Post a Comment