By Ajibola Adedoye
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has endorsed the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) Customs-Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) initiative, marking a significant milestone in the drive to strengthen intra-African trade and institutional cooperation.
This endorsement came during a high-level meeting between the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, and officials of the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra, Ghana, on Monday, 3 November 2025. The visit underscored Nigeria Customs’ commitment to deepening collaboration with AfCFTA in advancing trade facilitation, data harmonisation, and regional economic integration.
CGC Adeniyi emphasised that Customs administrations must play a leading role in resolving long-standing challenges affecting trade data reliability across the continent.
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“We have reached a consensus that Customs must take the front role in addressing deficiencies in Africa’s trade data. This is a responsibility I have accepted to pursue with my colleagues across the continent,” he stated.
He commended the AfCFTA Secretariat for its efforts in mobilising Customs leaders, development partners, and private sector players toward realising Africa’s trade potential. Adeniyi noted that the ongoing cooperation with the Secretariat provides a clear framework for the forthcoming C-PACT Conference scheduled to hold in Abuja from November 17 to 19, 2025.
“The AfCFTA Secretariat has been instrumental in coordinating African Customs and economic operators. With a clear concept note and sustained engagements, we now have a defined direction ahead of the Abuja conference,” he added.
The Customs Chief further highlighted the need to reinforce the AfCFTA framework that unites all African Customs administrations, ensuring that the partnership evolves into a long-term mechanism for policy coherence and institutional efficiency.
“Once the Customs Pact is institutionalised within the AfCFTA framework, it will serve as a sustainable platform for effective coordination and trade facilitation,” Adeniyi affirmed.
On his part, the AfCFTA Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for demonstrating leadership in promoting continental customs integration. He acknowledged the persistent obstacles to Africa’s trade growth — including weak logistics infrastructure, policy fragmentation, and high transport costs — and expressed optimism that the Abuja conference would chart practical solutions.
Mene revealed that the Secretariat is considering making the C-PACT Conference an annual fixture to sustain regional dialogue on customs cooperation and data management. He also reaffirmed ongoing efforts to enhance private sector participation, introduce e-certificates of origin, and operationalise the proposed Single Bond Guarantee Scheme to improve cross-border trade efficiency.
“Customs administrations must remain at the centre of AfCFTA implementation — driving data systems, AEO mutual recognition, and trade statistics management. The Nigeria Customs Service has shown commendable leadership in this regard,” Mene stated.
The partnership between the AfCFTA Secretariat and Nigeria Customs, through the C-PACT initiative, signals a renewed continental commitment to data-driven governance, stronger policy alignment, and seamless trade integration across Africa.
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