Nigeria Customs to Host CGC Conference, C-PACT 2026 to Boost Border Security, African Trade

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will host two major conferences in Abuja in December 2026, bringing together government officials, Customs administrations, trade stakeholders and international partners to strengthen border security, facilitate legitimate trade and advance economic integration across Africa.

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Conference is scheduled for December 7–8, 2026, while the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) 2026 Conference will hold from December 9–11, 2026.

According to the Service, the conferences reflect its commitment to modernising Customs operations, strengthening inter-agency collaboration and promoting seamless cross-border trade in line with Nigeria’s national security priorities and Africa’s broader economic integration agenda.

The CGC Conference, themed “Securing Borders, Enabling Trade: A Customs Commitment to Safer Communities,” will provide a platform to assess the Service’s modernisation efforts, review progress on previous commitments and examine the relationship between effective Customs administration, national security and trade facilitation.

The conference will also feature discussions on digital Customs operations, trusted trade corridors, seamless payments, intelligence-led enforcement and stronger partnerships among security agencies and other stakeholders.

Under the sub-themes “Enabling African Trade: Digital Customs, Trusted Corridors and Seamless Payments” and “Secure Borders, Safer Communities: Intelligence, Partnership and Trust at the Frontline,” participants will evaluate commitments made in 2025 and achievements recorded in 2026.

The programme will include presentations on Customs modernisation, the presentation of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) certificates and discussions on how reforms are affecting trade efficiency and revenue generation.

A major component of the CGC Conference will be an assessment of how digital transformation and stakeholder partnerships are improving Customs operations and creating a more predictable trading environment.

Participants are expected to include AEO beneficiaries, the National Single Window Secretariat, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), excise-sector representatives and other relevant institutions.

The discussions will provide an opportunity to assess the outcomes of ongoing reforms, identify operational challenges and recommend measures to improve trade facilitation and service delivery.

The second day of the conference will focus on coordinated responses to emerging and converging border threats. Relevant security and enforcement institutions, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), will participate in discussions on intelligence sharing, enforcement coordination and border security.

The sessions will also examine the importance of professional responsibility, institutional trust and cooperation in addressing threats that affect national security and community safety.

Building on the national discussions, C-PACT 2026 will provide a continental platform for advancing cooperation among African Customs administrations and other institutions involved in cross-border trade.

The conference, themed “One Border, Interconnected Systems: Advancing Customs Cooperation through One-Stop Border Posts,” will focus on practical solutions for coordinated border management, digital connectivity and more efficient movement of goods across African trade corridors.

Expected participants include Customs administrations, policymakers, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Regional Economic Communities, border management agencies, development partners, technology providers and private-sector representatives.

Discussions will address persistent obstacles to intra-African trade, including fragmented border procedures, duplicated inspections and controls, limited information sharing, incompatible digital systems and inadequate coordination among border agencies.

Participants will explore how One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs), supported by interconnected Customs platforms, harmonised procedures, coordinated risk management and secure information exchange, can reduce delays, lower trade costs and improve the predictability of cross-border transactions.

The C-PACT 2026 programme will feature high-level policy dialogue, strategic engagements among Customs administrations, technical sessions on interconnected borders and presentations on operational experiences from existing and emerging One-Stop Border Posts.

Technology demonstrations and discussions on public-private partnerships will also examine opportunities for financing and delivering modern border infrastructure across the continent.

Particular attention will be given to implementing key AfCFTA initiatives, including the AfCFTA Integrated Transit System, the Single Bond Guarantee Scheme and the Electronic Certificate of Origin system.

These initiatives are expected to support more efficient transit procedures, improve the movement of goods and strengthen the systems required to facilitate trade across African borders.

The conference is expected to produce practical recommendations, identify priority investment and technology opportunities, strengthen institutional partnerships and develop an implementation-oriented roadmap for interconnected, digitally enabled border systems across Africa.

National Customs PRO Abdullahi Maiwada Highlights Customs Service’s Commitment he said the Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has reiterated its commitment to strengthening collaboration with national institutions, regional partners and international stakeholders to secure borders, facilitate legitimate trade and support Africa’s economic integration agenda.

In the press release issued on October 25, 2026, and signed by Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD, mnipr, mniia, Deputy Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer (National PRO) of the Nigeria Customs Service, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, the Service emphasised the importance of linking effective border security with trade facilitation, technological innovation and safer communities.

The Service noted that the two conferences would reinforce accountability for ongoing reforms while advancing practical solutions to improve Customs operations and deepen regional cooperation.

The expected outcomes include stronger collaboration among border agencies, improved trade processes and greater alignment with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area to build a more integrated, competitive and prosperous African market.

Through the CGC Conference and C-PACT 2026, the Nigeria Customs Service aims to strengthen its role in shaping a more secure, digitally connected and trade-friendly border management system for Nigeria and the African continent.