NCS Strengthens WCO Integrity Partnership, Earns Global Commendation
By Asuquo Nuwak
NCS Strengthens WCO Integrity Partnership, Earns Global Commendation
In furtherance of its commitment to strengthening institutional integrity and
aligning with global best practices in customs administration, the Nigeria Customs
Service (NCS) has deepened its engagement with the World Customs Organisation
(WCO) Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme.
This
followed a high-level meeting held at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium,
recently, during a working visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs,
Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, who also serves as the Chairperson of the WCO
Council.
Besides, the engagement provided an opportunity for the A-CIP Team to brief the
Comptroller-General on the progress of its ongoing collaboration with the NCS.
.
Additionally, discussions centred on integrity capacity-building initiatives, the development of
integrity-focused standard operating procedures, and the planned conduct of an
integrity risk assessment exercise in 2026.
Indeed, the team also outlined its strategic
priorities under Phase II of the Programme (2026–2030), which places emphasis on
embedding integrity safeguards within automated customs systems, trade facilitation
frameworks, and revenue administration processes.
Furthermore, the A-CIP team commended the NCS for its active participation
in the WCO integrity survey and for approving the release of the survey outcomes,
a step that reflects a strong institutional commitment to transparency and
accountability.
Beyond all these, the positive outcomes of the survey underscore the impact of
ongoing reforms within the Service, including structured valuation review
mechanisms, strengthened post-clearance audit processes, and the implementation
of the Voluntary Disclosure Framework under the Nigeria Customs Service Act
2023.
In his remarks, the Comptroller-General expressed appreciation to the A-CIP
team for the quality and relevance of its engagement with the Service, reiterating the
NCS’s resolve to sustain and deepen the partnership, credibility of customs administrations, particularly in an increasingly complex
global trade environment.
Accordingly, he said building on the outcomes of the meeting, both sides agreed on a set of
forward-looking actions to consolidate progress under the A-CIP Programme.
These
include publishing the WCO integrity survey results to demonstrate transparency,
establishing and training a dedicated Implementation Working Group, and
systematically integrating survey recommendations into NCS operational and
business processes.
In a separate development, the Comptroller-General also held a strategic
meeting with the WCO Secretary-General, Ian Saunders and relevant secretariat
staff, during which both sides exchanged updates on the work of the Policy
Commission and Council.
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