Nigeria Customs to Host CGC Conference, C-PACT 2026 in Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is set to host the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Conference from December 7 to 8, 2026, and the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) 2026 Conference from December 9 to 11 in Abuja.
The conferences are expected to bring together government officials, Customs administrators, security agencies, trade stakeholders, regional institutions and development partners to examine strategies for improving border management, strengthening institutional collaboration and facilitating legitimate trade.
The CGC Conference, themed “Securing Borders, Enabling Trade: A Customs Commitment to Safer Communities,” will focus on the relationship between effective Customs administration, national security and trade facilitation.
It will also provide an opportunity for the Service to assess its modernisation initiatives, review commitments made in 2025 and evaluate progress recorded in 2026.
Discussions will centre on digital Customs operations, trusted trade corridors, seamless payments, intelligence-led enforcement and stronger partnerships among agencies responsible for securing Nigeria’s borders.
The programme will also feature presentations on Customs modernisation and the presentation of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) certificates, alongside discussions on measuring the impact of reforms on trade efficiency and revenue generation.
A major component of the conference will be an assessment of how digital transformation and stakeholder partnerships can improve Customs operations and reduce barriers to legitimate trade.
Relevant stakeholders, including AEO beneficiaries, the National Single Window Secretariat, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), excise-sector representatives and other institutions, are expected to contribute to discussions on reform implementation and areas requiring further improvement.
The second day will focus on coordinated responses to emerging border threats, with participation expected from key security and enforcement institutions, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the NCS, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
Building on the national conference, C-PACT 2026 will extend the discussions to the continental level under the theme “One Border, Interconnected Systems: Advancing Customs Cooperation through One-Stop Border Posts.”
The conference will examine persistent challenges affecting cross-border trade in Africa, including fragmented procedures, duplicated controls, limited information sharing, incompatible digital platforms and weak coordination among border agencies.
Participants will explore how One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs), supported by interconnected Customs systems, harmonised procedures and coordinated risk management, can reduce delays, lower trade costs and improve the movement of goods across African trade corridors.
The programme will feature high-level policy discussions, technical sessions, presentations on existing and emerging One-Stop Border Posts, technology demonstrations and deliberations on public-private partnerships for financing and delivering modern border infrastructure.
Particular attention will be given to initiatives supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), including the AfCFTA Integrated Transit System, the Single Bond Guarantee Scheme and the Electronic Certificate of Origin system.
The organisers expect the conference to generate practical recommendations, identify priority investment and technology opportunities, strengthen partnerships among Customs administrations and develop an implementation-oriented roadmap for digitally connected border systems across Africa.
Under the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, the NCS reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with national institutions, regional partners and international stakeholders to improve border security, facilitate legitimate trade and support Africa’s economic integration agenda.
The two conferences are expected to strengthen accountability for ongoing reforms while promoting practical solutions that link border security with technological innovation, trade facilitation and safer communities.
Their outcomes could also contribute to the broader objectives of the AfCFTA by supporting a more integrated, competitive and prosperous African market.
With Nigeria positioning itself as a key participant in regional trade development, the December conferences will provide an important platform for advancing Customs cooperation and addressing the operational challenges that continue to affect cross-border commerce across the continent.