The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has urged young officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to intentionally develop world-class expertise in Post Clearance Audit (PCA), describing it as a cornerstone of modern customs administration and a critical pathway for future leadership in trade facilitation.
Adeniyi gave the charge at the closing ceremony of the five-day World Customs Organization (WCO) Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, held from 19 to 23 January 2026 at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja.
Addressing participants, the CGC encouraged newly inducted and junior officers to view PCA not merely as a technical function but as a strategic career tool that aligns professional growth with international best practices.
“For the younger officers here, this may be your first exposure to this kind of engagement. But our respected WCO experts also started from somewhere. Post Clearance Audit is one of the emerging tools developed by the WCO, and it is one of the best ways to begin and shape a modern customs career,” Adeniyi said.
He noted that the evolving nature of customs administration increasingly demands strong analytical capacity, compliance intelligence and international exposure, urging officers to position themselves as globally recognised PCA professionals.
Describing the programme as insightful and transformative, the CGC said the sessions exposed participants to advanced PCA methodologies, risk management frameworks and modern compliance monitoring tools capable of significantly improving operational effectiveness.
According to him, the knowledge acquired will strengthen officers’ analytical skills, enhance revenue protection, improve trade facilitation and support Nigeria’s broader economic objectives. He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to sustained reforms, strategic partnerships with international organisations and the deployment of modern customs tools to align Nigeria’s trade environment with global standards.
In his remarks, WCO Trade Facilitation Expert, Mr James Clark, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its openness to reform and the speed with which it is adopting modern customs practices.
He stressed that sustained institutional commitment, continuous capacity building and consistent application of PCA tools are essential to achieving long-term impact.
“We are always looking forward to what we call the impact level — where you create a more effective and facilitative trading environment. I have the utmost confidence in your ability to achieve this,” Clark said.
He also praised NCS officers for their active participation throughout the programme and encouraged continued collaboration with WCO experts beyond the training.
The WCO Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, funded by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the United Kingdom, focused on strengthening customs reforms with emphasis on Post Clearance Audit and risk-based compliance management.
The successful conclusion of the programme marks another milestone in the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing drive to deepen trade facilitation, enhance compliance and position Nigeria as a competitive and reliable partner in global trade.
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