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Customs, Sugar Council Deepen Collaboration on Nigeria’s Sugar Self-Sufficiency Drive

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Customs, Sugar Council Deepen Collaboration on Nigeria’s Sugar Self-Sufficiency Drive By Muhammad Bashir The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Thursday, 14 May 2026, deepened its economic collaboration with the National Sugar Development Council, as the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, pledged the Service’s full institutional support towards Nigeria’s push for self-sufficiency in sugar production. CGC Adeniyi made the commitment at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, during a visit by a delegation from the National Sugar Development Council, led by its Executive Secretary, Kamar Bakrin. Speaking during the engagement, CGC Adeniyi said the NCS fully understands the critical role strategic partnerships play in protecting local industries and driving national economic growth, reiterating that similar collaborations in the past had delivered measurable results across key sectors of the economy. Recalling previous experiences, the Customs CG said coordinated engagements between government institutions and private stakeholders had paved the way for strengthening local production in sectors where Nigeria once depended heavily on imports. “This is exactly the kind of collaboration we seek with the National Sugar Development Council. The NCS is fully ready to support the Council in achieving Nigeria’s vision of self-sufficiency in sugar production,” he said. The CGC assured the Council that the Service would designate competent officers as focal persons to work directly with the Council. At the same time, both institutions would also hold periodic review meetings to assess progress, address challenges and sustain implementation. He further pledged Customs’ support in data sharing, import monitoring, and compliance enforcement, stressing that, as the gateway agency through which imported goods enter the country, the Service remains strategically positioned to support policy implementation. “Once there is transparency and integrity in the allocation process, enforcement on our part will not be difficult. We are committed to cooperation, transparency and sustained collaboration,” he added. Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, Kamar Bakrin, described the NCS as one of the most critical institutions in the realisation of Nigeria’s sugar master plan. According to him, the Council entered the meeting with high expectations but left with even greater confidence after the Comptroller-General demonstrated what he described as a deep understanding of the sugar sector and its relevance to industrial growth, employment generation, and rural economic development. “The NCS is perhaps the single most important institution in the realisation of our mandate. Today’s engagement exceeded our expectations,” Bakrin said. He disclosed that beyond verbal assurances, the Comptroller-General immediately outlined practical steps for implementation, including the creation of a joint working team and the designation of a Customs focal person to coordinate future engagements. “Immediately after we met with the Comptroller-General, we moved into a follow-up session where implementation of some of the decisions already commenced. We are leaving here with renewed confidence in this partnership,” he added.

By Muhammad Bashir

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Thursday, 14 May 2026, deepened its economic collaboration with the National Sugar Development Council, as the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, pledged the Service’s full institutional support towards Nigeria’s push for self-sufficiency in sugar production.

CGC Adeniyi made the commitment at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, during a visit by a delegation from the National Sugar Development Council, led by its Executive Secretary, Kamar Bakrin.

Speaking during the engagement, CGC Adeniyi said the NCS fully understands the critical role strategic partnerships play in protecting local industries and driving national economic growth, reiterating that similar collaborations in the past had delivered measurable results across key sectors of the economy.

Recalling previous experiences, the Customs CG said coordinated engagements between government institutions and private stakeholders had paved the way for strengthening local production in sectors where Nigeria once depended heavily on imports.

“This is exactly the kind of collaboration we seek with the National Sugar Development Council. The NCS is fully ready to support the Council in achieving Nigeria’s vision of self-sufficiency in sugar production,” he said.

The CGC assured the Council that the Service would designate competent officers as focal persons to work directly with the Council. At the same time, both institutions would also hold periodic review meetings to assess progress, address challenges and sustain implementation.

He further pledged Customs’ support in data sharing, import monitoring, and compliance enforcement, stressing that, as the gateway agency through which imported goods enter the country, the Service remains strategically positioned to support policy implementation.

“Once there is transparency and integrity in the allocation process, enforcement on our part will not be difficult. We are committed to cooperation, transparency and sustained collaboration,” he added.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, Kamar Bakrin, described the NCS as one of the most critical institutions in the realisation of Nigeria’s sugar master plan.

According to him, the Council entered the meeting with high expectations but left with even greater confidence after the Comptroller-General demonstrated what he described as a deep understanding of the sugar sector and its relevance to industrial growth, employment generation, and rural economic development.

“The NCS is perhaps the single most important institution in the realisation of our mandate. Today’s engagement exceeded our expectations,” Bakrin said.

He disclosed that beyond verbal assurances, the Comptroller-General immediately outlined practical steps for implementation, including the creation of a joint working team and the designation of a Customs focal person to coordinate future engagements.

“Immediately after we met with the Comptroller-General, we moved into a follow-up session where implementation of some of the decisions already commenced. We are leaving here with renewed confidence in this partnership,” he added.

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