By Suleiman Aremu | Solaremnews
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Fire Service (FFS) and Unilever Nigeria PLC have signed separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening cooperation, improving security, protecting legitimate trade, safeguarding lives and consumers, and contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth.
The agreements were signed on Thursday, 27 August 2026, at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja, during separate engagements involving the three organisations.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the agreement with the Federal Fire Service as a bold, deliberate and strategic step towards deepening inter-agency collaboration and advancing the shared responsibilities of both agencies to protect lives, property and critical national assets.
According to him, the MoU would enhance fire safety standards across Customs facilities, facilitate rapid response to emergencies, promote joint training and capacity building, and strengthen information sharing on fire safety and emergency preparedness.
Adeniyi expressed confidence that the agreement would go beyond documentation and translate into practical measures capable of improving emergency response and protecting government infrastructure.
“I am very confident that this MoU will translate to practical actions that save lives, protect government assets, and enhance our collective capacity to respond to emergencies,” he said.
The Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Adeyemi, described the agreement as the first strong MoU between the Fire Service and a sister agency, assuring that the FFS would deploy its expertise and capacity towards protecting Customs personnel and assets.
He stressed the importance of closer collaboration between government agencies in ensuring effective emergency preparedness and response, particularly in protecting strategic government facilities and personnel.
In a separate engagement with Unilever Nigeria PLC, the Customs boss said the partnership demonstrated the Service’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the private sector, particularly in tackling challenges affecting trade, manufacturing and industrial development.
Adeniyi said the MoU with Unilever would strengthen cooperation in the prevention of counterfeiting, intelligence sharing, and the identification and verification of suspected counterfeit products.
He explained that the agreement would establish a structured channel through which the Customs Service could receive real-time information on trademarks, product identification features, packaging and product samples.
According to him, such information would enhance the ability of Customs officers to identify suspected counterfeit goods and take appropriate enforcement measures.
The Comptroller-General also noted that engagements between the Customs Service and private-sector stakeholders provide valuable industry-specific information capable of influencing government policies and operational decisions.
“Some of the takeaways we get from these engagements with the private sector influence the policies and decisions that we take,” Adeniyi stated.
He commended Unilever Nigeria for its sustained investment, innovation and employment generation in the country, describing the company as an important partner in Nigeria’s trade and industrial sector.
Speaking on the partnership, the Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria PLC, Tobi Adeniyi, highlighted the company’s long-standing presence in Nigeria, dating back to 1923.
He disclosed that more than 70 per cent of Unilever Nigeria’s raw materials had been localised, while the company supports approximately 15,000 direct and indirect jobs across its operations and value chain.
Tobi Adeniyi commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its ongoing transformation, particularly its digitalisation initiatives, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and other measures aimed at facilitating legitimate trade.
He said previous engagements between Unilever and the Customs Service had already produced practical outcomes, including the application of lessons from training involving more than 70 Customs officers.
The Unilever Managing Director reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working closely with the Customs Service to combat counterfeiting and illicit trade, while expressing readiness to expand the partnership through further engagements across the country.
The separate MoUs underscore the growing emphasis on collaboration between government agencies and the private sector in addressing security, emergency preparedness, trade protection and economic development.
The agreements are also expected to provide a more coordinated framework for information sharing, capacity building and operational cooperation, with the ultimate objective of protecting lives and assets, facilitating legitimate commerce and strengthening Nigeria’s industrial and economic environment.
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