Nigeria Customs, UK’s HMRC Advance Deal To Strengthen Trade Cooperation

By Suleiman Aremu | Solaremnews | Sunday, 27 September 2026

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the United Kingdom have advanced discussions towards finalising a Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement (CMAA) aimed at strengthening information sharing, compliance and trade facilitation between the two countries.

The development was disclosed by the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of the Strategic, Research and Policy Department, Nafi’u Isyaku, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at a high-level bilateral meeting with an HMRC delegation on Friday, September 26, 2026.

The two-day meeting, which commenced on Thursday, September 25, and ended on Friday, September 26, was held at the NCS headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, as part of efforts to conclude negotiations on the agreement ahead of its proposed signing in December.

ACG Isyaku explained that the negotiations had been conducted virtually for about six months before both customs administrations agreed to meet physically to resolve outstanding issues and work towards finalising the agreement.

He said the physical meeting was convened to conclude the negotiations ahead of the proposed signing, which is expected to take place in the first week of December during the World Customs Organisation Policy Commission meeting.

“The meeting is to finalise our Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement (CMAA). We have been doing it virtually for some six months now. We decided to come here in person so that we can finalise the negotiations before the final signing, which hopefully is coming up in the first week of December during the World Customs Organisation Policy Commission meeting,” Isyaku said.

The proposed CMAA is expected to provide a framework for closer cooperation between the Nigerian and UK customs administrations, particularly in the areas of information sharing, compliance and trade facilitation.

Speaking on the engagement, Senior Policy Adviser at HMRC, Syed Moinuddin, described the meeting as an opportunity for both customs administrations to work through areas of cooperation and establish a framework that reflects the interests of the two authorities.

Moinuddin said the engagement also provided an opportunity to further strengthen the relationship between the NCS and HMRC within the wider customs family.

Also speaking, Louisa Bentley, Head of Bilateral Relations and Agreements at HMRC, said the negotiations conducted over the two days had been successful, noting that both sides were close to finalising the agreement.

According to Bentley, the proposed agreement would contribute to improved compliance and information sharing between HMRC and the NCS, while also enhancing trade facilitation and supporting both countries in accessing wider global trade opportunities.

“The agreement would boost trade by improving compliance and information sharing between HMRC and the NCS, while also enhancing compliance and trade facilitation to both partners in global trade opportunities,” she said.

Bentley also commended the reforms being implemented by the Nigeria Customs Service, following a tour of key facilities at the NCS headquarters.

The facilities visited by the HMRC delegation included the Trade Modernisation Project Limited office, the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report office and the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network station.

She noted that the delegation had observed significant developments in technology and personnel training within the NCS.

According to her, the developments witnessed during the tour would support the move towards more modern and efficient trade processes.

The bilateral engagement provided the HMRC delegation with an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of some of the reforms and operational developments being implemented by the Nigeria Customs Service.

The meeting and subsequent facility tour formed part of the broader efforts by both customs administrations to strengthen bilateral cooperation and establish a framework for greater collaboration in customs administration.

With negotiations now said to be close to completion, both sides are expected to work towards resolving the remaining issues ahead of the proposed signing of the Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement in December.