Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) held a high-level meeting in Beijing with China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC), marking a new chapter in bilateral cooperation focused on tech-driven customs training and modernisation on Friday, July 25, 2025.
This collaboration aims to boost Nigeria’s customs capacity through cutting-edge technology and shared knowledge.
China’s advanced training methods are a game-changer for Nigeria’s customs service. The GACC showcased innovative tools, including virtual reality (VR), 5G-enabled platforms, and blended e-learning systems, which have already supported over 8,000 physical training sessions and 360 online courses in 2024 alone. Exposure to tech-enhanced customs education promises to transform Nigerian officers’ operations at borders and ports.
Expanding tech-driven customs training
Nigeria’s delegation, led by Assistant Comptroller-General Oluyomi Adebakin, has been actively involved in China’s international customs training programs since 2023. Over 200 African customs officers, including 89 Nigerians, have benefited from specialised training in trade facilitation, anti-smuggling, food safety supervision, and digital port monitoring.
These programs form a solid base for Nigeria to nurture tech-savvy customs officers capable of handling modern border challenges confidently.
The Nigerian team learned from China’s structured training framework, which combines technology with practical skills.
Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD, stated, “The GACC conducted extensive training sessions, demonstrating a robust commitment to capacity development”.
This interaction highlights Nigeria’s deliberate push toward integrating modern customs practices inspired by China’s successes.
Modernising customs operations with tech solutions
The July 25 meeting explored how technology can modernise Nigeria’s customs operations. Both countries discussed adopting models that leverage digital tools to streamline customs procedures, enhance trade security, and support the African Continental Free Trade Area goals.
The collaboration also aims to foster joint research, technical exchanges, and officer swaps to deepen operational synergy.
China’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s customs modernisation is China’s GACC. In 2024, China’s GACC rolled out thousands of training modules and set a precedent in using VR and 5G systems for customs education—tech that Nigeria is now poised to embed.
This alliance elevates Nigeria’s position in the global customs community, especially after the election of its Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation Council.
Through this partnership, Nigeria is set to advance a customs service that is more efficient, transparent, and aligned with global trade developments, driven by cutting-edge technology and strengthened human capacity.