By Harriet Tornguvan
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has presented its impact-driven reform communication model at the 17th Session of the Capacity Building Committee of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), held at the organisation’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
The presentation, delivered by the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, highlighted Nigeria’s evolving approach to communicating institutional reforms and capacity building outcomes within Customs administrations.
Speaking during the session, Maiwada delivered a paper titled “Communicating the Results of Capacity-Building Initiatives More Effectively, Nigeria Customs Service Experience and Lessons Learned,” where he outlined how the Service has shifted from routine activity reporting to evidence based storytelling that demonstrates measurable reform outcomes.
According to him, the transformation aligns with the leadership vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who also serves as Chairperson of the WCO Council, aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and stakeholder confidence.
Maiwada explained that the Service’s reform communication framework is built on three core pillars institutional capacity building, human resource development, and stakeholder capacity engagement ensuring reforms are both effectively implemented and widely understood.
Additionally, he noted that the NCS adopted transparent data presentation tools, including infographics, to show that a significant portion of cargo clearance delays resulted from systemic idle time rather than inspection procedures. The approach, he said, helped shift public discourse from defensive explanations to performance benchmarking, thereby promoting shared accountability within the trade ecosystem.
He further disclosed that under the Advance Ruling programme, the Service issued 83 advance rulings in 2025, while registered accounts increased from 60 in December 2024 to 173 by December 2025 representing a 188.3 per cent growth in stakeholder participation.
The initiative he stated contributed 2.9 per cent of total revenue generated from goods valued at ₦240.89 billion within the year, reinforcing the role of structured communication in enhancing predictability and voluntary compliance.
Highlighting progress under the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, Maiwada revealed that about 120 companies have attained full AEO certification, while 3,270 officers were trained nationwide as AEO Champions to support implementation and deepen engagement with stakeholders.
He also identified the deployment of the indigenous Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, as a major milestone in the Service’s digital transformation efforts, supported by sustained sensitisation campaigns and user engagement initiatives.
In addition, Maiwada emphasised the importance of the Customs Integrity Perception Survey as a data-driven mechanism for measuring accountability and strengthening public trust, noting that integrity management within the Service is now continuously monitored and assessed.
He urged WCO member administrations to integrate communication units at the design stage of reform initiatives, humanise institutional processes, maintain sustained engagement beyond single events, and promote peer learning among Customs organisations.
At the close of the session, Nigeria nominated LI Yan of China Customs as Chair of the 18th Session of the WCO Capacity Building Committee, a nomination that received unanimous support from delegates. LI Yan, who has served as China’s Customs Attaché to Brussels since 2020, was commended for her contributions to multilateral cooperation and innovation within the WCO framework.
The participation of the Nigeria Customs Service at the global forum underscores the country’s growing influence in international Customs administration and its commitment to advancing transparency, efficiency, and reform-driven governance in global trade facilitation.
