By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has intensified efforts to boost Nigeria’s trade profile, engaging the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Nigeria to deepen bilateral trade and customs cooperation.
During the high-level meeting held in Abuja, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed, lauded Adeniyi’s emergence as Chairman of the World Customs Organization, describing it as a significant milestone for both Nigeria and the African continent.The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has intensified efforts to boost Nigeria’s trade profile, engaging the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Nigeria to deepen bilateral trade and customs cooperation.
During the high-level meeting held in Abuja, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed, lauded Adeniyi’s emergence as Chairman of the World Customs Organization, describing it as a significant milestone for both Nigeria and the African continent.
The Ambassador highlighted the growing strength of Nigeria-UAE trade relations, particularly in the non-oil sector, noting a substantial increase between 2023 and 2025.
A statement on Thursday by Customs spokesperson, Abdulahi Maiwada, quotes him as adding that ongoing efforts, including a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), are aimed at enhancing collaboration in trade facilitation and customs administration.
In response, Adeniyi expressed confidence that the engagement would mark a new phase in Nigeria-UAE relations, emphasizing the need to simplify trade processes, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to strengthening legitimate trade, improving operational efficiency, and fostering closer ties between customs administrations of both countries.
The CGC also stressed the importance of joint efforts in addressing activities that undermine Nigeria’s global image, noting that enhanced cooperation will drive security, trust, and sustainable economic growth.
