The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has led a Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) delegation to the Netherlands on a two-day bilateral working mission focused on boosting cooperation in trade facilitation, cargo efficiency and compliance management.
The visit, which held from 29 – 31 October 2025, featured strategic technical sessions with Dutch authorities, including engagements with the Netherlands Customs Administration in Rotterdam, the National Tactical Centre, Schiphol Cargo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance.
At Rotterdam, the delegation received briefings on tariff classification and origin procedures from the National Tariff Classification Team (TeamLTT), followed by an extensive session on risk profiling and cargo monitoring delivered by experts from the Customs National Tactical Centre.
Adeniyi described the interactions as highly insightful, noting that data-driven processes and structured risk frameworks deployed by the Dutch have significant relevance to Nigeria’s ongoing Customs modernisation reforms.
“The presentations have shown how systematic collaboration and structured analytical models can enhance compliance and trade facilitation across borders,” he said.
Further engagements at Schiphol Airport spotlighted the Netherlands’ integrated automation model for air cargo classification, pre-arrival processing and border coordination. DCG Caroline Niagwan said the practical lessons gained would be applied in strengthening Nigeria’s cargo handling architecture.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director-General for International Trade, Machiel Zweers, reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to technical cooperation and institutional learning, pledging sustained collaboration with Nigeria. Similar commitment was echoed at the Ministry of Finance during the closing bilateral meeting, which reviewed outcomes and explored structured mechanisms to formalise cooperation in areas including risk management, tariff classification, gender equity and cargo facilitation.
The visit ended with a guided tour of the Port of Rotterdam, where the NCS team was briefed on the port’s integrated logistics, advanced tracking systems and intermodal freight operations.
Adeniyi said the engagements have strengthened Nigeria’s resolve to benchmark global Customs standards.
“This mission has broadened our perspective on how technology, partnership and shared expertise can drive a modern, compliant and facilitative Customs ecosystem,” he stated.
Members of the delegation included DCG Caroline Niagwan; Deputy Comptroller Etim Ibok, Special Assistant to the CGC; Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, National PRO; and AC Lauretta Utubor, Team Lead for Nigeria’s Advance Ruling System.
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