By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to trade modernisation and value addition as part of efforts to position Nigeria as a competitive player in global commerce.
Speaking at a lecture titled “Products that can be Imported or Exported from Nigeria: AfCFTA, Rules of Origin and the Drive for Value Addition” at the Chambers of Commerce on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Comptroller Aliyu described Nigeria as a key participant in the global market, endowed with vast natural resources and a growing industrial base that must be strategically leveraged.
He said the pattern of Nigeria’s import and export activities reflects the nation’s broader economic aspirations and underlined the central role of the Customs Service in ensuring transparency and integrity within the trade system.
“Under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Service has embarked on a comprehensive modernisation programme aimed at achieving full automation of business processes,” Aliyu said. “This transformation will enhance competitiveness and position Nigeria as a formidable player in continental and global trade.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s export profile, the Customs Area Controller noted that crude oil and natural gas still dominate the export sector. He, however, called for stronger incentives to promote non-oil exports and greater value addition to locally produced goods to meet AfCFTA standards.
Comptroller Aliyu urged collaboration between government agencies, exporters, and the private sector to deepen trade reforms, unlock innovation, and strengthen Nigeria’s presence in regional and global value chains.
