The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will host the Comptroller General of Customs Conference from December 7 to 8, 2026, and the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C PACT) 2026 Conference from December 9 to 11 in Abuja, to strengthen border security, facilitate legitimate trade and promote economic integration across Africa.
The CGC Conference, themed “Securing Borders, Enabling Trade: A Customs Commitment to Safer Communities,” will examine the Service’s modernisation drive, assess progress on previous commitments and explore ways to strengthen the relationship between national security and trade facilitation.
This was disclosed in an official statement endorsed by Abdullahi Maiwada PhD, mnipr, mniia, Deputy Comptroller of Customs
National Public Relations Officer.
The conference will bring together government officials, Customs management, trade operators and institutional partners to review reforms and identify practical measures to improve operational efficiency. Discussions will focus on digital Customs processes, trusted trade corridors, seamless payments, intelligence sharing and stronger partnerships to tackle emerging security threats.
Participants will also assess the implementation of commitments made in 2025 and achievements recorded in 2026. The programme will feature presentations on Customs modernisation, the presentation of Authorised Economic Operator certificates and discussions on measuring the impact of reforms on trade facilitation and revenue generation.
Digital transformation and stakeholder collaboration will feature prominently, with representatives of the National Single Window Secretariat, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, excise sector operators and other institutions expected to examine progress and identify areas requiring further improvement. The second day will focus on coordinated responses to border threats, with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the NCS, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit among the institutions expected to participate.
Building on the national discussions, C PACT 2026 will provide a continental platform for African Customs administrations, policymakers, the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, regional economic communities, development partners, technology providers and private sector operators to strengthen cooperation and remove barriers to cross border trade.
With the theme “One Border, Interconnected Systems: Advancing Customs Cooperation through One Stop Border Posts,” the conference will address challenges such as duplicated inspections, fragmented procedures, weak information exchange and incompatible digital systems. It will explore how One Stop Border Posts, coordinated risk management, harmonised procedures and secure data sharing can reduce delays, lower trade costs and improve the movement of goods across African trade corridors.
The programme will feature policy discussions, technical sessions, technology demonstrations and presentations on operational experiences from existing and emerging One Stop Border Posts. Participants will also examine public private partnerships for financing modern border infrastructure and advancing key AfCFTA initiatives, including the Integrated Transit System, Single Bond Guarantee Scheme and Electronic Certificate of Origin system.
The conference is expected to produce practical recommendations, identify investment and technology opportunities, strengthen institutional partnerships and establish an implementation roadmap for interconnected and digitally enabled border systems across Africa. The outcomes are also expected to support more predictable trade procedures and improve cooperation among Customs administrations and other border management agencies.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said through the Service’s conference announcement that the NCS remained committed to working with national institutions, regional partners and international stakeholders to secure Nigeria’s borders, facilitate legitimate trade and advance Africa’s economic integration. The Service said the two conferences would reinforce accountability for ongoing reforms and promote practical solutions linking border security, technological innovation and trade facilitation.