Odita Sunday 
Nigeria, Netherlands Seal Customs Alliance to Boost Trade, Strengthen Border Security
By Odita Sunday
Nigeria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have signed a landmark Joint Declaration to deepen customs cooperation, in a move aimed at facilitating legitimate trade, strengthening border security and intensifying the fight against transnational organised crime.
According to Abdullahi Maiwada, Deputy Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer, the agreement was signed in Brussels on Wednesday by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the Director-General of Netherlands Customs, Mrs. Nanette Van Schelven.
Maiwada said the declaration marks a significant milestone in the Nigeria Customs Service’s international cooperation agenda and reflects the growing partnership between both customs administrations in modernising border management and promoting secure global trade.
He explained that the agreement followed a series of high-level engagements between the two countries, including the Nigeria Customs Service’s working visit to the Netherlands in October 2025 and a reciprocal visit by a Netherlands Customs delegation to Nigeria in March 2026.
According to the statement, both customs authorities agreed to strengthen collaboration in intelligence sharing, customs modernisation, risk management, cargo clearance systems, compliance management, trade facilitation, border control, supply chain security, capacity development and enforcement operations.
The declaration also recognises Nigeria’s strategic position as one of West Africa’s leading economies and a key trading partner of the Netherlands, while emphasising that stronger customs cooperation is critical to facilitating legitimate trade and tackling cross-border crimes.
The statement noted growing concerns over the trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, counterfeit goods, wildlife products and illicit weapons, stressing that such threats require coordinated international action.
Speaking after signing the declaration, Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi said the partnership demonstrates the value of international collaboration in addressing emerging trade and border management challenges.
He said the agreement would strengthen intelligence sharing, enhance capacity building, improve enforcement effectiveness and support joint efforts to secure international supply chains while facilitating legitimate trade.
Adeniyi described the declaration as a reflection of the strong relationship that has evolved between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Netherlands Customs Administration.
On her part, Director-General of Netherlands Customs, Mrs. Nanette Van Schelven, said both countries face similar challenges in an increasingly interconnected global trading environment.
She noted that closer collaboration would promote mutual learning, strengthen operational capabilities and improve efforts to combat transnational organised crime while supporting transparent and efficient international trade.
Under the agreement, both countries committed to expanding cooperation through the exchange of expertise, professional training, knowledge sharing and the development of structured operational frameworks.
The declaration also provides the foundation for a joint work plan designed to improve border efficiency, strengthen supply chain security, promote fair trade practices and enhance responses to both legal and illegal cross-border movement of goods.
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