By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs Administration of the Republic of Niger have agreed to intensify cooperation aimed at removing transit bottlenecks, safeguarding cargo in transit and strengthening border security to boost regional trade and stability.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, during a high-level bilateral meeting between the NCS and a delegation of the Niger Republic Customs Administration led by its Director-General, Muhammadu Yaqouba, at the Customs House, Maitama, Abuja.
The meeting focused on improving the movement of transit goods destined for Niger through Nigeria, enhancing intelligence and information sharing, addressing security challenges along shared borders, reducing delays on key corridors and ensuring that legitimate trade contributes meaningfully to economic growth in both countries.
Congratulating his Nigerien counterpart on his appointment, Adeniyi noted that both Customs administrations share a long history of professional collaboration fostered through engagements at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and other bilateral platforms.
He said cooperation between the two services is informed not only by geographical proximity but also by international obligations, particularly provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantee landlocked countries access to the sea.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by landlocked nations, Adeniyi explained that reliance on neighbouring countries’ ports and infrastructure often increases transaction costs and weakens competitiveness.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has remained committed to facilitating trade for our landlocked neighbours, including the Republic of Niger. This commitment will be sustained, irrespective of political differences, because trade facilitation, security and regional stability are closely linked,” he said.
Addressing concerns over transit delays, the Comptroller-General disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of safe corridors and guaranteed passage for loaded trucks awaiting clearance to ease congestion and delays.
The Custom Boss, assured that transit cargo, particularly consignments from Apapa ports and Nigerian airports destined for neighbouring countries, would continue to be processed and moved within 48 hours, without compromising national security or economic interests.
Adeniyi also warned against the diversion of transit goods, stressing that strict measures are in place to enforce compliance, with stiff sanctions for economic operators who violate transit regulations.
“Non-compliance by a few operators creates non-tariff barriers and erodes trust.
"We are determined to streamline documentation and remove avoidable bottlenecks along major routes such as the Illela–Sokoto–Kamba–Niger corridor and other links connecting ports and airports to neighbouring countries,” he added.
He described the engagement as the start of a renewed phase of cooperation that would redefine operational modalities, lower costs, increase trade volumes and make the transit corridors more attractive to transport operators.
In his remarks, the Director-General of Niger Republic Customs, Muhammadu Yaqouba, described the visit as a working engagement between two professional Customs administrations bound by shared responsibilities and challenges.
He thanked the NCS for the warm reception, noting that it reflected the longstanding fraternity between both countries and their Customs institutions.
According to Yaqouba, the visit was prompted by challenges including the prolonged blockage of trucks transiting from the Republic of Benin to Niger, as well as persistent security concerns across the region.
“We face common security threats, particularly terrorism and banditry. Engagements like this provide an opportunity to find lasting solutions through cooperation and coordination,” he said.
He disclosed that since 2024, Niger has intensified efforts to combat terrorism through Operation Saran Kasa, a coordinated initiative involving all national security agencies, which has recorded notable successes.
Additionally, as part of the effort, scanners have been deployed to inspect all goods entering Niger, underscoring the critical role of Customs in combating terrorism, arms trafficking and cross-border crime.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Garba Laka, congratulated Yaqouba on his appointment and extended condolences to the Government and people of Niger over the recent terrorist attack near Niamey Airport.
Describing the incident as tragic, he reaffirmed Nigeria’s solidarity with Niger and the shared resolve to prevent a recurrence.
Major-General Laka said Nigeria and Niger share deep historical, cultural and familial ties, particularly in border communities where trade and social relations cut across national boundaries.
“Insecurity in any part of the Sahel affects all of us. Arms trafficking, drug smuggling and the concealment of ammunition in cargo vehicles remain serious threats that require coordinated and sustained action,” he said.
He noted that the Nigerian government places high priority on Niger-related issues, including trade, energy supply and security, adding that requests from Niger, especially on petroleum products and gas, receive prompt attention.
Laka advocated the revival of bilateral security frameworks, including cross-border right-of-pursuit arrangements, and called for joint operations and sustained inter-agency collaboration, expressing confidence that the outcomes of the meeting would translate into concrete actions.
