Customs Pledges Full Support for South-South Development Commission

By Oluwakemi Kindness

Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has pledged the Service’s full support for the newly established South-South Development Commission.

He described the commission as a potential driver of regional and national economic growth.

A statement on Sunday issued by Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada, says Adeniyi made the commitment on Thursday, when the Commission’s Managing Director, Usoro Akpabio, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Customs Headquarters in Abuja.

He congratulated Akpabio on her appointment and stressed that the reforms introduced under the 2023 Customs Act required broad consultations and partnerships.

Adeniyi noted that Customs is ready to maintain open conversations with the Commission to ensure inclusivity, shared prosperity, and sustainable development.

“Given the urgency of the issues at hand, both institutions should meet again soon to mobilise broader stakeholder participation,” Adeniyi said.

According to him, Customs would also consider setting up a joint working team to serve as a sounding board for collaboration in trade facilitation, border management, and regional integration.

Highlighting recent efforts by Customs to deepen its community engagement, the CGC pointed to the Service’s new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, which targets education, healthcare, and infrastructure in host communities.

He said the initiative reflects the Service’s broader commitment to inclusive growth.

On her part, Akpabio commended Customs for its modernisation efforts, describing them as exemplary.

She explained that the South-South Development Commission, inaugurated barely three weeks ago, has a wide mandate covering the blue economy, agriculture, human capital development, infrastructure, and utilities across the region.

She noted that Customs’ strong presence in seaports, oil and gas operations, free trade zones, and border activities makes it a critical partner in the Commission’s economic blueprint.

“The Commission will pursue a strategic alliance with Customs that will outlive our tenure, with a focus on transparency, regional growth, and national development,” Akpabio assured.

Both leaders agreed to deepen institutional collaboration as part of efforts to unlock the economic potential of the South-South and strengthen Nigeria’s overall development agenda.