Nigeria, Netherlands unite for stronger trade facilitation, border security

By Vivian Okejeme

Nigeria Customs Service and Customs Administration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have signed a joint declaration on strengthening trade facilitation and border security.

The move is in a bid to facilitate legitimate trade and combat illegal cross-border activities, as well as capacity building, and the fight against transnational organised crime.

A statement signed Thursday, by National Public Relations Officer for Comptroller-General of Customs, said the
declaration was signed on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, in Brussels by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi and the Director-General of Netherlands Customs, Mrs Nanette Van Schelven.

According to the statement, the action was following a series of high-level engagements between both administrations aimed at strengthening customs modernisation, intelligence sharing, compliance management, and enforcement cooperation.

The development builds on the Service’s bilateral working visit to the Netherlands in October 2025 and the subsequent visit of the Netherlands Customs delegation to Nigeria in March 2026.

The statement reads in part

“During the initial engagements, the two administrations explored opportunities for cooperation in risk management, cargo clearance systems, trade facilitation, border control, supply chain security, capacity development, and the fight against illicit trade.

“In the Joint Declaration, both parties acknowledged Nigeria’s strategic position as one of West Africa’s leading economies and an important trading partner of the Netherlands. They further recognised that customs cooperation and institutional capacity-building are critical to facilitating legitimate trade while combating illegal cross-border activities.

“The declaration highlighted growing concerns over trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, counterfeit goods, wildlife products, and weapons, noting that these threats require coordinated international responses.

“The CGC, while signing the declaration, asserted that the Netherlands Customs have demonstrated immense value of international cooperation in addressing emerging trade and border management challenges. He added that the partnership will strengthen intelligence sharing, enhance capacity building, improve enforcement effectiveness, and support the collective efforts to secure international supply chains while facilitating legitimate trade.

“He described the declaration as a significant milestone in the Service’s international cooperation agenda and a reflection of the strong relationship established between the two Customs administrations over the past years.”

Furthermore, the Director-General of the Netherlands Customs, Mrs Nanette Van Schelven, stated that both administrations face similar challenges in an increasingly interconnected global trading environment.

She noted that closer collaboration would promote mutual learning, strengthen operational capabilities, and improve efforts to tackle transnational organised crime while supporting efficient and transparent trade processes.

“The declaration commits both parties to deepening collaboration through the exchange of expertise, training, knowledge sharing, and the development of structured cooperation frameworks.

“It further provides a foundation for developing a joint work plan and future cooperation mechanisms to enhance border efficiency, promote fair trade practices, strengthen supply chain security, and address the challenges associated with both legal and illegal cross-border movement of goods.”