In a landmark diplomatic push to curb smuggling and boost intra-African commerce, Nigeria’s Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, met with Ghana’s Commissioner-General of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Brigadier General Glover Annan in Accra.
In a statement by Nigeria Customs Service on Wednesday 5 November, 2025 The high-level talks underscored a renewed commitment to intelligence sharing, harmonized border procedures, and joint enforcement to dismantle transnational criminal networks under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Welcoming the Nigerian delegation at GRA headquarters, Brig. Gen. Annan hailed the visit as a step toward deeper operational ties.
“Our nations are united not just by history and culture but also by a shared vision to strengthen customs operations,” he said.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has continued to inspire our reforms and innovation in Ghana, and we see great opportunities in renewing our collaboration.”
Annan praised Nigeria for spearheading the Customs-Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) initiative, a collaborative effort with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and backed by the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
He highlighted the upcoming C-PACT Conference in Abuja from November 17 to 19 as a pivotal platform for African customs leaders to advance transparency, lawful trade, and sustainable growth.
Responding, CGC Adeniyi warned that criminal syndicates are exploiting gaps in cross-border customs coordination to smuggle dangerous substances and contraband.
“We must bridge the gaps between our administrations because these are the same weaknesses that transnational criminals exploit,” he stated.
“The more we work together, exchanging intelligence and building capacity, the stronger we will be against these syndicates.”
The Nigeria Customs Boss proposed reviving a 2001 memorandum of understanding on customs cooperation between the two nations, urging updates to address modern challenges and AfCFTA opportunities.
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“It would be my wish that we take a second look at that agreement and breathe new life into it,” he said. “We can identify new areas of collaboration that align with today’s challenges and the future we envision for African trade.”
The visit also sought Ghana’s backing for the C-PACT Conference and explored strategies to elevate customs’ role in driving AfCFTA success.
“Our mission is to strengthen the role of Customs as a major promoter of AfCFTA,” Adeniyi added.
“We want to increase the volume of trade within Africa and ensure that trade becomes a true driver of growth and prosperity for our people.”
