Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with the Indian Customs Administration, as both countries advanced discussions on critical customs and trade matters at the 92nd Session of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Policy Commission, held on June 25, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium.
Led by the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, the Nigerian delegation met with Mr. Surjit Bhujbal, a senior official of India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), to review progress under the Customs Mutual Administrative Agreement (CMAA) signed between Nigeria and India on November 16, 2024.
Key discussions focused on deepening collaboration in customs valuation, transfer pricing and the integration of customs and tax systems, in line with the CMAA’s objectives.
Both parties also addressed the growing concern over the international trafficking of substandard pharmaceutical products, acknowledging that recent seizures in Nigeria were the direct result of improved intelligence sharing and joint operational efforts.
“Today’s dialogue continues the strong foundations laid during the signing of the CMAA last year”, said CGC Adewale Adeniyi.
“We are intensifying efforts to combat undervaluation, abusive transfer pricing, and enhancing system integration between customs and tax authorities. Additionally, our joint actions in curbing the importation of substandard pharmaceuticals are already yielding results and protecting public health”.
The CGC further emphasized Nigeria’s readiness to broaden cooperation with India through joint technical missions, capacity-building programmes and shared data platforms aimed at improving risk management, revenue assurance and trade compliance.
“This partnership reflects our vision of a smarter, more collaborative, and globally connected customs administration”, Adeniyi added.
In his remarks, Mr. Bhujbal described Nigeria as a vital partner in Africa.
“The CMAA has created a formal structure for mutual assistance, technical cooperation, and information exchange. We are committed to tackling revenue leakages and enhancing valuation accuracy by leveraging our experience with customs-tax integration”, he noted.
The CMAA, signed during the state visit of India’s Prime Minister to Nigeria in 2024, marked a pivotal moment in bilateral relations, especially in trade facilitation, customs modernization and institutional synergy.
The WCO Policy Commission serves as a high-level forum where customs leaders from across the world convene to shape global trade policy, enforcement strategies and modernization initiatives.
Nigeria’s active engagement reinforces its commitment to international best practices and modern customs reforms.
