Nigeria Customs Service Presents Reform Communication Approach at WCO Capacity Building Committee Session
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has presented its reform communication approach at the 17th Session of the Capacity Building Committee of the World Customs Organization (WCO), held at the organisation’s headquarters in Brussels from 25 to 27 February 2026.
At the session, the Service’s National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, delivered a paper titled “Communicating the Results of Capacity-Building Initiatives More Effectively: Nigeria Customs Service Experience and Lessons Learned.”
He told delegates that the NCS has moved away from routine activity reports to a results-driven communication model that highlights measurable outcomes and real reform impact.
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Maiwada explained that under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who also chairs the WCO Council, the Service has adopted a structured communication framework built on three pillars: institutional capacity building, human resource development, and stakeholder engagement.
According to him, the aim is not only to implement reforms but to ensure they are properly understood and trusted by stakeholders.
Using the Time Release Study (TRS) as an example, he noted that the Service applied transparent data tools, including infographics, to show that much of the delay in cargo clearance stemmed from systemic idle time rather than inspection procedures.
This, he said, helped shift discussions from defensive explanations to performance benchmarking and collective responsibility within the trade environment.
On the Advance Ruling programme, Maiwada disclosed that 83 rulings were issued in 2025. Registered user accounts also rose significantly—from 60 in December 2024 to 173 by December 2025—representing a 188.3 per cent increase. The initiative, he added, contributed 2.9 per cent of total revenue from goods valued at ₦240.89 billion in 2025, demonstrating how clear communication can enhance predictability and voluntary compliance.
He further highlighted progress under the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, revealing that about 120 companies have attained full certification, while 3,270 officers have been trained nationwide as AEO Champions to drive implementation and deepen engagement with stakeholders.
Maiwada also referenced the rollout of the Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, describing it as a key milestone in the Service’s digital transformation efforts.
The system’s deployment, he noted, has been supported by ongoing sensitisation campaigns and user engagement initiatives.
In addition, he spoke on the Customs Integrity Perception Survey, describing it as a measurable and data-driven mechanism for assessing accountability and strengthening public confidence in the Service.
He encouraged member administrations of the WCO to involve communication units at the planning stage of reform initiatives, maintain sustained engagement beyond single events, humanise institutional processes, and promote peer learning among customs administrations.
At the close of the meeting, Nigeria nominated LI Yan of China Customs for Chair of the 18th Session of the WCO Capacity Building Committee.
The nomination received unanimous support from delegates. LI Yan, who has served as China’s Customs Attaché in Brussels since 2020, has overseen several multilateral and bilateral engagements within the WCO framework.
Her previous tenure as Vice Chair and election as Chair at the 16th Session, as well as her re-election at the just-concluded 17th Session, were cited as evidence of the Committee’s confidence in her leadership.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, MARCH 1ST 2026)
