Nigeria Customs Showcases Data-Driven Reforms, Gains at WCO Forum
TheConscience NG reports that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has detailed how strategic communication of reforms outcomes is driving revenue growth, transparency and stakeholder confidence, during a high-level presentation at the 17th Session of the Capacity Building Committee of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in Brussels.
Presenting Nigeria’s experience, the National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, said the Service has moved beyond traditional activity-based reporting to a results-oriented framework that highlights measurable impact across operations.
Maiwada explained that under the leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who also chairs the WCO Council, the NCS has embedded communication into the design and implementation stages of reforms to ensure transparency and build trust within the trading community.
A key highlight of the presentation was the Time Release Study (TRS), which the Service used to reshape public perception of cargo clearance processes. By deploying infographics and open data tools, Customs demonstrated that the bulk of clearance delays were linked to systemic idle time rather than inspection bottlenecks.
The data-driven approach, Maiwada noted, shifted discourse from blame narratives to performance benchmarking and collective accountability within the trade ecosystem.
On revenue and compliance, the Advance Ruling programme emerged as a major reform success. In 2025 alone, the NCS issued 83 Advance Rulings, while registered accounts surged from 60 in December 2024 to 173 by December 2025 — a 188.3 per cent increase. The initiative contributed 2.9 per cent of total revenue from goods valued at ₦240.89 billion, reinforcing the link between predictability, voluntary compliance and revenue optimisation.
The Service also recorded significant progress under its Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, with about 120 companies receiving full certification. To sustain implementation nationwide, 3,270 officers were trained as AEO Champions, strengthening internal capacity and deepening stakeholder engagement.
Maiwada further spotlighted the deployment of the indigenous Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, describing it as a milestone in Nigeria’s digital customs transformation.
The system, supported by continuous sensitisation efforts, is aimed at improving operational efficiency and service delivery.
In addition, he referenced the Customs Integrity Perception Survey as a structured accountability tool that allows integrity management within the Service to be measured and continuously assessed, signalling a shift towards data-backed institutional trust building.
The presentation positioned Nigeria as a case study in how strategic, impact-focused communication can reinforce reform credibility, improve compliance and strengthen collaboration across customs administrations globally.
