Customs Reforms Key to Africa’s Global Trade Competitiveness – CGC Adeniyi

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has declared that reforms in customs administration are no longer optional but essential for Africa to unlock its economic potential and strengthen the competitiveness of exporters on the global stage.

He stated this while delivering a keynote at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algiers.

Adeniyi according to a statement on Tuesday night stressed that efficiency, transparency, and innovation must drive customs operations across the continent to realise the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“Customs reforms are no longer optional; they are essential for Africa to realise its full potential in trade,” he said. “We must prioritise efficiency, transparency, and innovation to strengthen the competitiveness of African exporters and advance continental integration.”

The statement by customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada, quotes Adeniyi as noting that the Nigeria Customs Service has already embarked on wide-ranging modernisation programmes, including the digitalisation of clearance processes, improved enforcement mechanisms, and capacity building, to create a seamless trading environment.

Adeniyi affirmed that these reforms align with AfCFTA’s vision of an integrated market and will position Nigeria as a regional hub for trade facilitation and industrial growth.

The IATF, inaugurated in 2018, has grown into the continent’s premier platform for trade and investment, with the 2025 edition expected to generate $44 billion in deals.