Customs Boss Adeniyi Calls for Global Cooperation on Trade Security

By Love Oyedokun

Abu Dhabi, UAE – February 2, 2026 – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) made a strong impression at the 2026 World Customs Organisation (WCO) Technology Conference and Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, showcasing its advancements in technology-driven trade facilitation and digital transformation. The three-day conference, held from January 28th, brought together customs administrations, technology firms, and policymakers from around the globe to discuss innovative solutions for strengthening border security and accelerating legitimate trade.

Cablenews24 reports that under the theme “Customs Agility in a Complex World: Securing and Facilitating Trade through Innovation,” the conference provided a platform for the NCS to highlight its ongoing trade modernization program and its increasing alignment with global standards in data exchange, digitalization, and intelligence-led enforcement.

Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi, who also serves as the WCO Council Chair, emphasized the importance of international collaboration in addressing emerging cross-border challenges during a high-level panel discussion. He stressed that technology alone is not sufficient and that structured cooperation with organizations like INTERPOL, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, and the Universal Postal Union is crucial for tracking criminal networks, protecting intellectual property, and managing new trade risks.

Adeniyi specifically highlighted cargo diversion along transit corridors as a major global concern and called for deeper Customs-to-Customs cooperation through existing WCO instruments and mutual administrative assistance frameworks. “Diversion of goods in transit is a shared global problem,” he stated. “Only coordinated investigations and stronger data exchange can ensure goods reach their intended destinations.”

He also praised innovative solutions presented at the conference, particularly a digital humanitarian corridor system developed by the UAE, which he described as a practical model for improving the movement of relief consignments within a fully digitalized environment.

Adeniyi emphasized that organizational agility in Customs administration requires continuous adaptation, strong governance frameworks, and sustained investment in human capital, in addition to deploying new technologies. “As experienced officers exit the system, Customs administrations must prioritize skills development for the next generation,” he said. “Technology delivers value only when officers have the capacity to maximize its potential.”

The Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Team played a prominent role at the conference, with General Manager Ahmed Ogunsola speaking on cloud computing and data analytics and software development lead Nabil Mustapha delivering a technical session on the evolution of national trade systems.

The TMP also showcased Nigeria’s homegrown Customs solutions, including the B’odogwu application and other indigenous digital tools designed to integrate all actors in the trade ecosystem and streamline Customs operations at the exhibition hall.

Senior UAE officials and WCO Secretary-General Ian Saunders underscored the growing importance of artificial intelligence, smart monitoring systems, and data analytics in achieving secure and efficient trade during the opening ceremony.

Beyond the formal sessions, the NCS and TMP teams actively participated in the conference Hackathon, collaborating with global experts to develop practical technology-driven solutions to emerging trade challenges, further solidifying Nigeria’s position as an active contributor to global Customs innovation.

The conference featured live demonstrations and case studies on e-commerce, cybersecurity, scanning technologies, cloud computing, and sustainable Customs operations.

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