The Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, has charged younger officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to aspire towards global expertise in Post-Clearance Audit, describing it as a critical tool for modern customs administration and trade facilitation.
Mr. Adeniyi gave the charge at the conclusion of a five-day World Customs Organization (WCO) Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme held at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja.
He noted that Post-Clearance Audit is one of the emerging tools developed by the WCO and urged young officers to align their career aspirations with international best practices by mastering the technique.
The Customs boss described the programme as insightful and transformative, explaining that participants were exposed to advanced audit tools and techniques capable of improving analytical capacity, operational efficiency and compliance monitoring.
According to him, the training provided officers with deeper understanding of modern audit practices, risk management and revenue protection, while also supporting trade facilitation and safeguarding national economic interests.
Mr. Adeniyi reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to continuous reforms, collaboration with international partners and the deployment of modern tools to align the Service with global standards.
Institutional Commitment
Also speaking, a WCO Trade Facilitation Expert, Mr. James Clark, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its willingness to embrace reforms and modern customs practices, noting the progress made within a relatively short period.
Mr. Clark stressed the importance of institutional commitment, continuous capacity building and consistent application of Post-Clearance Audit tools in achieving sustainable impact. He expressed confidence in the Service’s ability to create a more effective and facilitative trading environment.
The five-day WCO Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, funded by the United Kingdom’s Revenue and Customs, was held from January 19 to 23, 2026, and focused on strengthening customs reforms with emphasis on Post-Clearance Audit and risk-based compliance management.
The conclusion of the programme marks another milestone in the Nigeria Customs Service’s efforts to promote ease of doing business, strengthen compliance and position Nigeria as a competitive player in global trade.