Nigeria Customs, UK HMRC Advance Deal to Boost Trade Cooperation

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the United Kingdom’s His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have advanced negotiations on a Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement (CMAA) aimed at strengthening information sharing, compliance and trade facilitation between both countries.

The development followed a two-day high-level bilateral meeting between officials of the NCS and HMRC held at the NCS headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, from Thursday, September 25 to Friday, September 26, 2026.

The Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of the Strategic, Research and Policy Department, Nafi’u Isyaku, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the meeting was convened to resolve outstanding issues in the proposed agreement ahead of its expected signing in December.

Isyaku said negotiations had been conducted virtually for about six months before both sides agreed to hold physical discussions to finalise the agreement.

He expressed optimism that the CMAA would be concluded ahead of the proposed signing during the World Customs Organisation Policy Commission meeting in December.

Speaking on the engagement, Senior Policy Adviser at HMRC, Syed Moinuddin, said the meeting provided an opportunity for both customs administrations to strengthen cooperation and establish a framework that reflects the interests of the two authorities.

Also, the Head of Bilateral Relations and Agreements at HMRC, Louisa Bentley, said the negotiations were successful, noting that both sides were close to concluding the agreement.

According to her, the proposed agreement would support trade by improving compliance and information sharing between HMRC and the NCS, while enhancing trade facilitation and access to global trade opportunities.

Bentley also commended the reforms being implemented by the NCS following a tour of key facilities at the Customs headquarters, including the Trade Modernisation Project Limited office, Pre-Arrival Assessment Report office and Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network station.

She noted that the delegation had observed significant developments in technology and personnel training, which she said would contribute to more modern and efficient trade processes.

The bilateral engagement ended with a tour of key departments and units at the NCS headquarters, giving the HMRC delegation an opportunity to assess ongoing reforms and operational developments within the Service.