NCS, Malaysian Customs strengthen trade, border cooperation

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has advanced strategic cooperation with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) to enhance trade facilitation and strengthen border management.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, led the engagement during a visit to the RMCD Headquarters on the sidelines of the Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference 2026.

According to a statement by the NCS National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, the meeting comes amid growing trade relations between Nigeria and Malaysia, with imports rising from N159.9 billion in 2020 to N716 billion in 2024, and total trade reaching about N1.82 trillion within five years.

Adeniyi, who was received by RMCD Director-General, Dato’ Haji Amran bin Haji Ahmad, said the volume of trade between both countries makes a formal customs partnership imperative.

“The scale and trajectory of Nigeria–Malaysia trade relations necessitate a more structured and formalised customs-to-customs partnership,” he said.

He described Malaysia as a key trading partner, noting that Nigeria’s imports include crude palm oil, refined palm olein, jet fuel, food products, machinery and other industrial inputs.

Both customs authorities acknowledged the absence of a formal legal framework guiding their cooperation and agreed to initiate steps towards a Mutual Recognition Agreement under the World Customs Organization.

The NCS said the proposed agreement would “provide a structured basis for cooperation, enhance mutual trust, and support reciprocal trade facilitation measures.”

The meeting also reviewed border management strategies, with the Malaysian delegation highlighting its integrated system under the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS).

Adeniyi, in response, outlined the NCS Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and other reforms aimed at ensuring faster cargo clearance, reducing costs and improving compliance.

Both sides emphasised the need for deeper collaboration in intelligence sharing, enforcement coordination and technology-driven solutions to combat illicit trade and transnational crimes.

The Service reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnerships, noting that the outcome of the engagement would boost trade efficiency, operational capacity and border security.