Lagos, Nigeria — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs Administration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have signed a Joint Declaration to strengthen cooperation on trade facilitation, border security, and the fight against transnational organised crime.
The agreement was signed in Brussels on June 24 by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the Director-General of Netherlands Customs, Mrs. Nanette Van Schelven, following a series of high-level engagements between both countries.
According to a statement by the National Public Relations Officer of NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, the partnership builds on previous bilateral visits and focuses on customs modernisation, intelligence sharing, compliance management, and enforcement cooperation.
“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,” the statement said, adding that both sides recognised the need for stronger customs cooperation to facilitate legitimate trade and combat illegal cross-border activities.
The declaration also highlighted growing concerns over trafficking in narcotics, counterfeit goods, wildlife products, and weapons, stressing the need for coordinated international responses.
Speaking at the signing, Adeniyi described the agreement as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s customs cooperation agenda.
“The partnership will strengthen intelligence sharing, enhance capacity building, improve enforcement effectiveness, and support efforts to secure international supply chains while facilitating legitimate trade,” he said.
On her part, Van Schelven noted that both countries face similar challenges in a globalised trading environment and emphasised that closer collaboration would improve operational capabilities and promote efficient, transparent trade processes.
The agreement is expected to deepen bilateral ties, boost trade efficiency, and strengthen border control systems between Nigeria and the Netherlands.
