Nigeria Customs, Malaysia Deepen Trade, Border Security Alliance Amid ₦1.82tn Trade Growth

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its strategic cooperation with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) in a move aimed at enhancing trade facilitation and improving coordinated border management.
This development followed an official visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to the RMCD headquarters during his participation at the DSA Malaysia 2026 exhibition. The engagement comes amid growing bilateral trade between both countries, with Nigeria’s imports from Malaysia rising significantly from ₦159.9 billion in 2020 to ₦716.0 billion in 2024, bringing total trade value over five years to about ₦1.82 trillion.
Adeniyi was received by Malaysia’s Director-General of Customs, Dato’ Haji Amran bin Haji Ahmad, who assumed office in March 2026. Both officials held high-level discussions centered on strengthening institutional collaboration, advancing customs modernisation, and enhancing coordinated border management systems.
Speaking during the meeting, the Comptroller-General stressed the need for a more structured customs-to-customs partnership, noting that Malaysia remains a key trading partner to Nigeria. He highlighted major imports from Malaysia to include crude palm oil, refined palm olein, jet fuel, machinery, and other industrial goods. Adeniyi also underscored the vital role of customs administrations in facilitating legitimate trade while protecting national economic and security interests.
Both parties acknowledged the absence of a formal legal framework guiding bilateral customs cooperation despite longstanding trade relations. To address this, they agreed to commence processes toward establishing a Mutual Recognition Agreement under the World Customs Organisation (WCO) framework. The agreement is expected to enhance trust, streamline procedures, and support reciprocal trade facilitation initiatives.
The meeting also featured a presentation by the RMCD on its evolving border management structure, including the establishment of the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) as a unified frontline border authority. In response, Adeniyi highlighted the NCS’s Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and other trade facilitation measures designed to ensure efficient cargo clearance, reduce costs, and promote compliance.
Both sides emphasized the importance of deeper collaboration in intelligence sharing, enforcement coordination, and the adoption of technology-driven solutions to combat illicit trade and transnational crimes.
The NCS reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnerships as part of its broader modernisation agenda. It noted that outcomes from the engagement are expected to boost operational efficiency, enhance trade facilitation, and reinforce border security in line with Nigeria’s economic growth objectives.
As part of his visit, the Comptroller-General also met with officials at the Nigerian Diplomatic Mission and Defence Office in Malaysia, commending their contributions to advancing Nigeria’s interests and supporting citizens abroad.