Customs, UK’s HMRC Deepen Cooperation on Trade Facilitation, Digital Border Management
Author: Abdulkareem Zurmi.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reinforced its strategic cooperation with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the United Kingdom following a high-level bilateral engagement held in London on 18 March 2026.
The meeting was convened under the framework of the Nigeria–United Kingdom Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) and formed part of broader engagements on the sidelines of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom.
Leading the Nigerian delegation was the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi, while the UK delegation was headed by Megan Shaw, Head of International Customs and Border Engagement at HMRC. The discussions focused on advancing customs modernisation, strengthening transparency in bilateral trade data, and expanding operational cooperation between the two customs administrations.
Speaking during the engagement, CGC Adeniyi emphasised that effective cooperation between customs authorities remains a critical pillar for facilitating legitimate trade, safeguarding supply chains, and promoting economic growth.
According to him, Nigeria and the United Kingdom maintain a longstanding commercial relationship characterised by active exchange across key sectors, including industrial goods, agriculture, energy products, and consumer commodities.
“Customs administrations serve as the frontline institutions responsible for ensuring that trade flows between both countries remain transparent, secure, and mutually beneficial,” Adeniyi stated.
A major focus of the meeting was the persistent discrepancy in bilateral trade statistics recorded by both countries. Available data shows that Nigeria recorded approximately £504 million worth of imports from the United Kingdom in 2024, while UK export records indicate shipments to Nigeria valued at approximately £1.7 billion within the same period.
Both parties acknowledged that such gaps in trade data are a structural issue across many international trade corridors and often arise from differences in valuation methods, transhipment points, and reporting timelines.
To address this challenge, the two customs administrations agreed to explore establishing a structured pre-arrival data exchange mechanism between their digital customs platforms. The initiative is expected to enhance risk management processes, improve trade data reconciliation, and strengthen compliance monitoring across the Nigeria–UK trade corridor.
The engagement also provided a platform for both sides to present their respective customs modernisation initiatives. The UK delegation highlighted HMRC’s advancements in artificial intelligence-enabled trade analytics, digital verification tools, and real-time border monitoring systems, underscoring opportunities for deeper collaboration in technology deployment and digital border management.
Key outcomes from the meeting include the development of a Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance framework, the commencement of technical consultations on capacity-building and knowledge exchange, and the establishment of a joint technical engagement mechanism under the ETIP framework.
The NCS reaffirmed that strengthening international partnerships remains central to its ongoing reform agenda to improve transparency, enhance operational efficiency, and promote competitiveness in Nigeria’s trading environment.
The Service added that insights from the engagement will support its broader modernisation programme, enhance trade facilitation efforts, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic reform priorities under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
