By Folusho Adeogun
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its commitment to institutional modernisation and professional capacity development as Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Florence Igbasi completed the Brussels phase of the 96th World Customs Organisation (WCO) French Fellowship Programme, held from 7 September to 23 October 2026.
CSC Igbasi was among ten Customs officers selected from Argentina, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Mali, Mauritius, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal and Seychelles for the international programme, which focused on strengthening professional competence and equipping participants with practical knowledge of international Customs standards and modernisation strategies.
A key component of the fellowship was developing modernisation projects that required participants to identify relevant WCO standards and translate them into practical solutions suited to the operational realities of their respective administrations. As part of this exercise, CSC Igbasi developed a project to implement a WCO standard within the NCS, aimed at supporting institutional modernisation, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening service delivery.
Speaking on her experience, Igbasi described the fellowship as a valuable platform for professional development and international knowledge exchange. She said, “The 96th WCO French Fellowship Programme has been a valuable learning experience, providing an opportunity to engage with international Customs standards, exchange knowledge with colleagues from other administrations and understand how global best practices can be adapted to address national Customs priorities.”
At a ceremony marking the participants’ departure for the internship phase, WCO Secretary-General Ian Saunders congratulated the ten officers on their commitment and achievements throughout the programme. He expressed confidence that the modernisation projects the participants developed would translate into practical results for their respective administrations and the wider WCO membership.
The programme also featured workshops on leadership development and staff development, further equipping participants with the competencies required to drive institutional transformation. CSC Igbasi subsequently proceeded to the final phase, which included a study visit to Japan, providing additional exposure to Customs operations, leadership practices and international approaches to Customs administration.
On the relevance of the experience to the NCS, CSC Igbasi said the knowledge acquired would strengthen her contribution to the Service’s modernisation agenda. “My participation in this programme has reinforced my commitment to contributing meaningfully to the modernisation agenda of the Nigeria Customs Service. The knowledge and practical insights gained, particularly from the development of my modernisation project and the study visit to Japan, will be valuable in supporting the application of relevant WCO standards, improving operational efficiency and strengthening the Service’s capacity to deliver on its mandate,” she stated.
The successful completion of the fellowship underscores the importance of international collaboration and continuous professional development in building a modern and efficient Customs administration. It also reflects the NCS’s commitment to developing personnel with the technical knowledge, leadership capacity and professional competence required to advance its institutional mandate and align its operations with global best practices.
