The comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, says that customs reforms and trade facilitation are critical to unlocking Africa’s economic potential.

Mr Adeniyi stated this at the ongoing fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025) in Algiers. NCS spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada, said this in a statement on Monday.

The IATF 2025 is projected to generate $44 billion in deals, connecting thousands of exhibitors, governments, and investors.

IATF is central to advancing African Continental Free Trade Area goals, fostering continental integration, accelerating intra-African trade, and promoting resilient value chains.

Mr Adeniyi said the NCS was working in collaboration with other African customs administrations and was committed to deploying transparency, efficiency, and innovation in its operations to strengthen continental trade.

According to him, customs reforms are no longer optional but are essential for Africa to realise its full potential in trade.

“We must prioritise efficiency, transparency and innovation to strengthen the competitiveness of African exporters and advance continental integration,” he said.

He said Nigeria had begun implementing trade modernisation programmes, including the digitalisation of clearance processes, improved enforcement mechanisms, and capacity building, to facilitate a seamless trading environment.

Mr Adeniyi, who is also the president of the World Customs Organisation, noted that the reforms being implemented by NCS aligned with AfCFTA objectives. He said the move was positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for trade facilitation and industrial growth.

“With Nigeria hosting IATF 2027, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to showcase the impact of our reforms and demonstrate how Customs can drive sustainable economic growth. The NCS remains committed to creating a transparent, efficient, and technology-driven system that benefits all stakeholders,” Mr Adeniyi said.

The event is coordinated by Afreximbank, the African Union Commission, and the AfCFTA Secretariat, in cooperation with the Algerian government. The fourth edition aims to highlight innovation, green industrialisation, digital economy, creative industries, as well as youth and women in trade, in line with the goals of AfCFTA.

(NAN)